The Trump administration has announced plans to bring back a Guatemalan man who was wrongly deported to Mexico—a change from its previous refusal to return other individuals removed in error.
What Happened?
In a court filing late Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice said it is arranging a flight to return a man identified only as O.C.G. to the United States. His lawyers are part of a broader legal case in Massachusetts, challenging their clients’ deportations.
Why Is O.C.G. Important?
O.C.G.’s attorneys say their client is gay and already protected from deportation to Guatemala. However, they argued that the administration ignored his fear of returning to Mexico, where he was previously raped and extorted.
What Is the Government Doing?
The filing states the government plans to grant O.C.G. Significant Public Benefit Parole, a humanitarian program allowing him to re-enter the U.S. They also intend to place him on the return leg of a deportation flight.
How Is This Different From Other Cases?
This move contrasts with the Trump administration’s response to two other wrongly deported men:
- Kilmar Abrego Garcia, protected from deportation to El Salvador but sent there anyway, ending up in a notorious prison. The Supreme Court has ordered the government to help him return.
- A Venezuelan man known only as Cristian, similarly sent to the same prison despite legal protections, and who has yet to be returned.
What’s Next?
The administration’s new approach to O.C.G. may signal a shift, but the fate of other wrongly deported individuals remains uncertain amid ongoing legal battles.
The Trump administration is taking steps to correct one wrongful deportation by arranging the return of a Guatemalan man from Mexico. This stands in contrast to previous cases where efforts to bring back wrongly deported individuals have stalled. The situation highlights ongoing challenges in immigration enforcement and the legal system.