Garcia, who entered the United States illegally as a teenager, was taken into custody by immigration officials in 2019. He sought asylum, but his request was initially denied because he had overstayed his allowed time in the country. Despite this, the judge at the time opted against deporting him back to El Salvador.
Under the Trump administration, Garcia was deported in March and detained in El Salvador. His case became a focal point for those critical of the administration’s tougher stance on immigration.
Following his return to the U.S., federal authorities brought charges against Garcia related to a traffic stop in Tennessee. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is also seeking to deport him to a third country.
Garcia’s legal team has argued that both the criminal charges and deportation attempts are politically motivated, aimed at punishing him for opposing the previous administration.
The request to reopen his asylum case held significant importance. If successful, it could potentially lead to him obtaining a green card and a pathway to citizenship. However, with the denial, he faces the risk of being deported back to El Salvador.
During the Trump administration, officials stated Garcia was a member of the MS-13 gang, citing hand tattoos and confidential sources confirming his gang affiliation.
Garcia’s lawyers previously sought a gag order against government officials, claiming that “prejudicial, inflammatory, and false statements” about him would prevent him from receiving a fair trial.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted about the immigration court ruling on social media, stating, “This MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, domestic abuser, and child predator will never be loose on American streets.”
