it can happen hereAbrego Garcia v. Noem Timeline
A timeline of significant events in the case of Abrego Garcia v. Noem.
2006
Kilmar Abrego-Garcia and his family are threatened and extorted by the Barrio 18 gang in El Salvador.
2012
Abrego-Garcia enters the United States of America without inspection.
March 28, 2019
Abrego-Garcia is arrested for being in the an "alien present without admission or parole".
May 24, 2019
In immigration court, Abrego-Garcia is denied his request for release on bond while awaiting a hearing, as he could not demonstrate that his release would not pose a danger to persons or property, as evidence showed that was a "verified member of MS-13". Further, Abrego-Garcia was also denied bound because he could not demonstrate that that he would not be a flight risk.
October 10, 2019
Abreg-Gracia application for withholding of removal is granted by judge David M. Jones of the United States Immigration Court, barring his deportation to El Salvador.
December 19, 2019
The board of immigration appeals dismisses Abrego-Garcia's appeal of the immigration courts decision to deny his request for release on bond, on the grounds that the immigration judge "appropriately considered allegations of gang affiliation against the respondent in determining that that he has not demonstrated that he is not a danger to property or persons."
May 6, 2021
Jeniffer Vasquez, Kilmar Abrego-Garcia's wife, files a temporary protective order against him.
December 1, 2022
Abrego-Garcia is was observed "speeding and unable to maintain its lane" and pulled is pulled over by Tennessee Highway patrol. He is given a warning for driving with an expired license. Based upon suspicious circumstances, the officer refers the matter to the Department of Homeland Security Combined Intelligence Unit for further investigation of possible human trafficking.
March 12, 2025
Abrego-Garcia is detained by ICE
March 15, 2025
Abrego-Garcia is incarcerated in CECOT, the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador.
March 24, 2025
Abrego-Garcia's lawyers file a lawsuit on his behalf.
March 31, 2025
Robert Cena, the Acting Field Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, states under penalty of perjury that Abrego-Garcia was removed from the United States to El Salvador through administrative error in court filings.
April 4, 2025
During a motions hearing, Erez Reuveni, counsel for the Department of Justice, states "the facts -- we concede the facts. This person should -- the plaintiff, Abrego Garcia, should not have been removed. That is not in dispute."
Judge Paula Xinis orders a temporarily restraining order, directing the government to "facilitate and effectuate the return of the Plaintiff Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to the United States no later than 11:59 PM on Monday, April 7, 2025."
The government immediately files an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
April 5, 2025
Erez Reuveni and his superviser August Flentje are put on indefinite leave for his statements during the hearing on April 4th. Reuveni is later fired on April 15th.
April 7, 2025
The government's appeal is denied.
The government appeals to the Supreme Court, which issues an administrative stay.
April 10, 2025
The Supreme Court issues a ruling that the appeal "is granted in part and denied in part, subject to the direction of this order. Due to the administrative stay issued by THE CHIEF JUSTICE, the deadline imposed by the District Court has now passed. To that extent, the Government’s emergency application is effectively granted in part and the deadline in the challenged order is no longer effective. The rest of the District Court’s order remains in effect but requires clarification on remand. The order properly requires the Government to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador. The intended scope of the term “effectuate” in the District Court’s order is, however, unclear, and may exceed the District Court’s authority. The District Court should clarify its directive, with due regard for the deference owed to the Executive Branch in the conduct of foreign affairs. For its part, the Government should be prepared to share what it can concerning the steps it has taken and the prospect of further steps."
Judge Xinis amends her order. The amended order is to "DIRECT that Defendants take all available steps to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia to the United States as soon as possible."
April 11, 2025
Judge Paula Xinis finds that the government has failed to comply with her order from the day before. She orders the government to provide daily status updates on there efforts to comply with her April 10th order.
April 14, 2025
President Trump and Nayib Bukele, the President of El Salvador, meet in the Oval Office. Mention is made of the Abrego-Garcia.
April 15, 2025
Judge Xinis holds a status conference.
April 16, 2025
The government appeals a 2nd time to the Fourth Circuit, arguing that the term "facilitate" means the Executive must remove any domestic barriers to the Abrego-Garcia's return and does not involve a directive to take any act upon a foreign nation.
The status reports from the government on their progress facilitating the release from custody of Abrego-Garcia become perfunctory, essentially stating that the government asserts it has done everything it can do to comply with the courts April 10th order.
April 17, 2025
The government's 2nd appeal is denied. The governments argument that the word "facilitate" only means that the government must remove domestic barriers to Abrego-Garcia's return is rejected.
Abrego-Garcia is transferred from CECOT to Centro Industrial detention facility.
April 18, 2025
Senator Van Hollen meets with Abrego-Garcia in El Salvador. He holds a press conference a few days later discussing the meeting.
April 22, 2025
Judge Paula Xinis orders the government to comply with discovery requests by April 23, 2025 at 6:00 PM.
That days status report from the government is submitted under seal.
April 23, 2025
Based off a sealed motion, Judge Paula Xinis orders a 7 day stay of discovery until April 30th.
