Fact Check: U.S. attempts to deport FBI informant facing death in El Salvador
What We Know
The claim revolves around the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man who was deported from the United States to El Salvador on March 15, 2025, in what the Trump administration described as an "administrative error" (source-2). Abrego Garcia had previously been granted withholding of removal status in 2019 due to the danger he faced from gang violence if returned to El Salvador (source-2).
Upon his deportation, he was imprisoned in the Salvadoran maximum security Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) without any charges against him in either country (source-2). His deportation was controversial, as it was based on accusations of gang affiliation, which he denied (source-2).
In April 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the government to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return to the U.S., rejecting the administration's argument that it lacked jurisdiction over El Salvador (source-2). Following this, he was returned to the U.S. in June 2025 to face criminal charges related to human smuggling (source-3).
Analysis
The claim that the U.S. attempted to deport an FBI informant is partially true. While Kilmar Abrego Garcia was indeed deported and faced potential death threats in El Salvador due to his past and the political climate, the characterization of him as an "FBI informant" is misleading. The sources do not explicitly state that he was an informant for the FBI; rather, he was involved in a legal battle regarding his immigration status and was accused of gang affiliation (source-2).
The reliability of the sources is mixed. The information from Wikipedia provides a comprehensive overview of the legal proceedings and background of Abrego Garcia, but it is important to cross-reference with news articles from established outlets like NPR and CNN, which provide additional context and updates on his situation (source-3, source-7).
The claim's validity is also complicated by the political implications surrounding immigration policy during the Trump administration, which may lead to biased interpretations of events (source-3).
Conclusion
The claim that the U.S. attempted to deport an FBI informant facing death in El Salvador is partially true. While Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported and faced significant danger upon his return to El Salvador, the assertion that he was an FBI informant lacks substantiation in the available evidence. His case highlights the complexities of immigration law and the potential for administrative errors to have severe consequences for individuals facing persecution.