DHS Mocks Critics After Attempting to Deport Man to a Country He’s Never Been To

DHS mocked critics after detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia and planning to deport him to Uganda, even though he has no ties there. A judge blocked the move.

The Department of Homeland Security is drawing attention for more than its immigration actions this week. On Monday night, the agency leaned into social media trolling while taking custody of a man caught up in a high-profile deportation fight.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia was detained during a routine immigration check. Soon after, DHS announced it planned to deport him to Uganda, even though he has no connection to the country. That detail set off immediate pushback, with many pointing out the obvious mismatch.

Instead of pulling back, DHS doubled down online. After reporters described Abrego Garcia as a “Maryland man,” the agency mocked the coverage. “Uganda man,” it posted on X, followed by another message: “He doesn’t belong here. He won’t be staying here. America is a safer nation without this MS-13 Gangbanger in it. Good riddance.”

The arrest came about 160 days after Abrego Garcia was reunited with his family. Before that, he had already been deported to El Salvador, where he ended up in the country’s notorious CECOT prison.

By Monday afternoon, his lawyers had filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Maryland, challenging DHS over the latest detention. A federal judge quickly stepped in and ordered the government to pause deportation proceedings.

The online jabs from a federal agency added another layer to an already tense case. Critics say the “Uganda man” post not only downplays the seriousness of deportation but also spreads confusion, given Abrego Garcia has no links to Uganda. Supporters of the move argue DHS is within its rights to pursue removal of someone it identifies as a gang member.

This is far from the first time immigration enforcement has collided with public messaging. What stands out here is the tone. Government agencies are usually careful with language in sensitive cases, but DHS seemed intent on pushing back at critics in a way that played more like a clapback on social media than an official statement.

For Abrego Garcia and his family, the stakes are much higher than the online exchanges. With a judge blocking deportation for now, the fight is moving back to the courts. His attorneys are expected to continue pressing their case that his rights have been violated and that sending him to a country he has no connection to would be unlawful.

Whether DHS will continue using this kind of public messaging remains to be seen. But Monday’s posts made one thing clear. The agency isn’t shying away from sparring with its critics in real time, even when the subject involves a man’s possible deportation to a nation he has never set foot in.