The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released unredacted court documents on April 16 exposing troubling details about Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident whose controversial deportation to El Salvador has drawn media attention and political backlash.
In a post published on X, DHS included screenshots of a 2021 temporary protective order filed by Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, in the District Court of Maryland for Prince George’s County. The filing alleged that Garcia “punched and scratched” her, “ripped off” her shirt, and left her with visible bruises during a domestic incident on May 6, 2021.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia had a history of violence and was not the upstanding “Maryland Man” the media has portrayed him as.
According to court filings, Garcia’s wife sought a domestic violence restraining order against him, claiming he punched, scratched, and ripped off her shirt,… pic.twitter.com/FpSV0k3i90
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) April 16, 2025
The court documents, shared publicly in three images, also listed personal details such as home addresses and birthdates, raising privacy concerns among immigration advocates.
According to DHS, Garcia “had a history of violence and was not the upstanding ‘Maryland Man’ the media has portrayed him as,” further alleging he was affiliated with the violent transnational gang MS-13, as reported by The Dallas Express.
The protective order barred Garcia from contacting his wife and required him to vacate their shared residence at 7411 Meade Avenue in Fort Washington, Maryland. A hearing for a final order was scheduled for May 13, 2021.
Garcia was deported on March 15, 2025, to El Salvador’s high-security prison, the Centro del Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT). His removal sparked controversy after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on April 7 that the deportation was unlawful.
In 2019, an immigration judge had granted Garcia withholding of removal, citing a “clear probability of future persecution” by the rival gang Barrio 18.
The Trump administration acknowledged the deportation was an “administrative error” but refused to reverse it, citing ongoing national security concerns and Garcia’s alleged ties to MS-13.
Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador on April 16 in an attempt to visit Garcia but was denied access. On April 17, the senator posted on X, expressing frustration over the blocked visit.
The DHS post has sparked renewed debate over immigration enforcement, deportation errors, and the media’s framing of cases involving alleged gang members and domestic abusers.