Abrego Garcia Attorneys Allege Coercion, Uganda Deportation Threat Ahead of Monday Deadline

Attorneys for Kilmar Abrego Garcia have accused the federal government of attempting to coerce their client into accepting a guilty plea by threatening to deport him to Uganda. These allegations were made in a filing on Saturday, August 23, 2025, just a day after Garcia’s release from criminal custody in Tennessee and transfer back to Maryland.

According to his legal team, Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who was previously wrongly deported, declined an offer to be deported to Costa Rica in exchange for pleading guilty to human smuggling charges and remaining in jail. Following his release on Friday, August 22, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) allegedly informed his attorneys that he could face deportation to Uganda and ordered him to report to their Baltimore office on Monday, August 25, 2025.

His attorneys contend that this move is a retaliatory response to his refusal of the prior plea deal. They stated, “There can be only one interpretation of these events: the DOJ, DHS, and ICE are using their collective powers to force Mr. Abrego to choose between a guilty plea followed by relative safety, or rendition to Uganda, where his safety and liberty would be under threat.” They also claim that on Friday evening, DHS issued an ultimatum, giving Abrego Garcia until Monday morning to accept a plea deal for deportation to Costa Rica, or the offer would be permanently rescinded.

In response to the filing, a Justice Department spokesperson told ABC News, “A federal grand jury has charged Abrego Garcia with serious federal crimes including human trafficking and smuggling offenses, underscoring the clear danger this defendant presents to the community. This defendant can plead guilty and accept responsibility or stand trial before a jury. Either way, we will hold Abrego Garcia accountable and protect the American people.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had also publicly criticized Abrego Garcia’s release on Friday. His trial in the human smuggling case is set to begin on January 27, 2027.

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