STORY: Kilmar Abrego, the migrant whose wrongful deportation to El Salvador made him a symbol of President Donald Trump's hardline immigration policies, was again detained by U.S. immigration officials in Baltimore on Monday (August 25) , his lawyer said, while facing the possibility of being deported again, this time to Uganda.

Abrego, 30, was deported in March despite a 2019 U.S. immigration court ruling that he not be sent back to his native country due to a risk of persecution by gangs. Abrego was flown back from El Salvador in June to face criminal charges of transporting migrants living illegally in the United States. He has pleaded not guilty.

He was released from criminal custody in Tennessee on Friday and returned to a family home in Maryland after more than five months of detention, including time in a mega-prison in El Salvador known for its harsh conditions.

But Abrego was detained again by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday upon reporting for an 8 a.m. interview, his lawyer Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg told reporters and Abrego's supporters outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency field office in downtown Baltimore.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the arrest and said ICE is processing Abrego for deportation to Uganda.

U.S. officials have offered to deport him to Costa Rica - like El Salvador, a Spanish-speaking country in Central America - if he pleads guilty to the charges, according to his lawyers. Without a guilty plea, Abrego could be removed to Uganda, an East African country that is "far more dangerous," his lawyers said in court documents filed on Saturday.

Abrego's lawyers acknowledged they have entered plea discussions with the government to possibly avoid deportation to Uganda.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Wrongly deported migrant Abrego again detained by US immigration officials

VIDEO SHOWS: KILMAR ABREGO SPEAKING DURING A RALLY IN FRONT OF THE ICE OFFICE IN BALTIMORE

RESENDING TO FIX TYPO ON SLATE

SHOWS: BALTIMORE, MARYLAND UNITED STATES (AUGUST 25, 2025) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. WIDE OF RALLY AS PEOPLE CHANT "Todos somos Kilmar" (We are all Kilmar)

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish and English) LYDIA WALTHER RODRIGUEZ, CASA CHIEF OF ORGANIZING AND LEADERSHIP, SAYING:

"But today, we are on our feet to say no more. We are here in front of Baltimore ICE with Kilmar Abrego Garcia and his family. We are to demand justice and that they stop once and for all. Enough is enough, playing political games with his family and torturing this man. Enough is enough!"

3. VIEW OF PROTESTERS CARRYING SIGNS AND LISTENING

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) KILMAR ABREGO, WRONGLY DEPORTED MIGRANT, SAYING EMOTIONALLY:

"When I was arrested, I always remembered beautiful moments with my family, moments of going to the park, of going on a trampoline with my children. (Off-Camera translation in English follows)

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) KILMAR ABREGO, SAYING:

"When I was detained, I remembered memories with my family. Going to the park with them, going to the trampoline with my children." (FOLLOWED BY ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) KILMAR ABREGO, WRONGLY DEPORTED MIGRANT, SAYING

"Those moments will continue to give me hope to continue in this fight. To all the families who have suffered separations and who live constantly under the threat of being separated, I want to tell you that even though injustice is hitting us hard, we do not lose faith."

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LYDIA WALTHER RODRIGUEZ, CASA CHIEF OF ORGANIZING AND LEADERSHIP, SAYING:

"TRANSLATION IS DIFFERENT FROM ABREGO'S "To all the families who have been separated or to all the families who had been threatened with family separation, this administration has hit us hard. But I want to tell you guys something."

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) KILMAR ABREGO/FOLLOWED BY ENGLISH TRANSLATION, SAYING:

"God is with us. God will never leave us. God does justice to all the injustice they have done. God is with us and God will never leave us. God will bring justice to all of the injustice that we are suffering."

9. APPLAUSE

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) KILMAR ABREGO/FOLLOWED BY ENGLISH TRANSLATION, SAYING:

"With our community supports us and in the end there will be justice. Love and family will win.

With our community by our side and with our family by our side. Love will triumph."

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) KILMAR ABREGO/FOLLOWED BY ENGLISH TRANSLATION, SAYING:

"Never lose hope. You will once again see your family too. Regardless of what happens today.

With my ICE check-in, promise me this. You will keep fighting, praying, believing in dignity and freedom, not only for me, but for all. Promise me that you will continue to pray, continue to fight, resist, and love, not just for me, but for everybody. Continue to demand freedom. Thank you so much."

12. WIDE OF SCENE AS CROWD CHANTS

13. CROWD CHANTS "WE ARE ALL KILMAMR"

14. SCRUM AROUND ABREGO AS HE AND HIS WIFE AND LEGAL TEAM ENTER ICE BUILDING

15. ABREGO SEEN EMBRACING HIS WIFE INSIDE GLASS DOORS

16. WIDE OF SCENE