The Trump administration has identified a new destination for Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s removal, informing him on Friday that he is now set to be deported to the southern African kingdom of Eswatini. The Maryland resident, who has been entangled in a years-long immigration battle, continues to resist the government’s attempts to expel him from the United States.

According to an email obtained by CNN, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told Abrego Garcia that, after objections to earlier proposed deportation destinations, officials had settled on Eswatini. Homeland Security previously signaled Uganda as the country of removal, but the 39-year-old raised fears of persecution and torture there. He has expressed similar concerns about more than 20 other countries, including his native El Salvador, where he was mistakenly deported earlier this year and spent time in a notorious mega-prison.

The ICE communication dismissed his claims, suggesting that his pattern of citing multiple nations undermined his credibility. Still, the agency confirmed its new plan: “Your country of removal is Eswatini, Africa,” the notice stated. An ICE spokesperson later told CNN that the agency is bound by a removal order issued by an immigration judge and will comply.

Abrego Garcia, however, remains in custody in the United States while facing federal human smuggling charges. His lawyers argue that deporting him before the criminal proceedings conclude would deny him due process. Last week, the judge overseeing his case temporarily halted the deportation until early October, when Trump administration officials are expected to testify about their handling of his situation.

Meanwhile, Abrego Garcia has expressed a preference to be sent to Costa Rica, a country he says is open to granting him legal status. His attorneys claim that prosecutors dangled the possibility of deportation to Costa Rica in exchange for a guilty plea to trafficking charges, though no deal was reached.

Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is a landlocked nation in southern Africa, roughly the size of New Jersey and ruled by one of the world’s last absolute monarchs. It is among four African countries—along with Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda—that entered into agreements with the Trump administration to accept foreign deportees.

In addition to fighting his deportation order, Abrego Garcia is pursuing a separate asylum claim before the Justice Department, adding another layer of legal complexity to a case that underscores the far-reaching and controversial nature of U.S. deportation agreements with foreign governments.

Who is Kilmar Abrego Garcia?

Kilmar Abrego Garcia has become an unexpected figure at the center of U.S. immigration debates, with his name surfacing repeatedly in court documents, immigration notices, and news reports about controversial deportation practices.

A Long and Complex Immigration Journey

Abrego Garcia is a Maryland resident whose immigration status has been a source of contention for years. Originally from El Salvador, he has faced multiple deportation attempts by the U.S. government. In one particularly chaotic episode earlier this year, he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, where he ended up spending weeks inside a notorious mega-prison before being returned to the United States.

Current Legal Troubles

In addition to his immigration struggles, Abrego Garcia is currently facing federal charges related to human smuggling. He remains in ICE custody while awaiting trial, but the Trump administration has aggressively sought to deport him before the legal process concludes. His attorneys argue that removing him now would deny him due process and further complicate his asylum bid.

The Deportation Battle

The Department of Homeland Security initially sought to send Abrego Garcia to Uganda, but he pushed back, citing fears of persecution or torture. According to records, he has raised similar concerns about at least 22 countries. In September, ICE informed him that Eswatini—a small, landlocked monarchy in southern Africa—would be designated as his new country of removal.

This choice is linked to a set of agreements between the Trump administration and several African nations—including Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda—to accept foreign deportees.

His Preferred Destination

While ICE has attempted to send him to countries across Africa, Abrego Garcia has expressed a preference for Costa Rica. Officials there have reportedly indicated they would consider granting him some form of legal status. His lawyers claim that U.S. prosecutors even offered Costa Rica as a potential destination in exchange for a guilty plea, though he declined the deal.

Seeking Asylum

Alongside his criminal and deportation cases, Abrego Garcia is separately pursuing asylum before an immigration judge within the Justice Department. If successful, this could allow him to remain in the United States, though the process is highly uncertain given the existing removal order against him.

Why His Case Matters

The story of Kilmar Abrego Garcia illustrates the complexity of U.S. immigration policy, especially under the Trump administration’s hardline approach. His case touches on mistaken deportations, contested international agreements, asylum law, and the balance between criminal charges and immigration enforcement.

For now, Abrego Garcia remains in U.S. custody—his future hanging between a pending trial, a possible asylum claim, and the looming threat of being deported once again, this time to a country he has never called home.