United States Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated during a press briefing that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man mistakenly deported to El Salvador due to a clerical error, is not a "Maryland father," calling him an "illegal alien, MS-13 gang member and foreign terrorist who was deported back to his home country."

Leavitt said that when he was arrested, Garcia wore a sweatshirt with what she called a "known MS-13 gang symbol." She clarified that "two separate judges found that Abrego was a member of MS-13 and that finding has never been disputed." She reiterated that if "he ever ends up back in the United States, he would immediately be deported again."

Earlier this month, US Chief Justice John Roberts delayed the midnight deadline for US President Donald Trump's administration to bring Garcia back to the country.