The Supreme Court has temporarily paused a deadline to return Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident mistakenly deported to El Salvador. The decision, announced on Monday (April 7), follows a request from President Donald Trump, allowing the court more time to review the case. Chief Justice John Roberts granted the administrative stay, extending the deadline until a more comprehensive decision is made.

Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national, was deported on March 15 and is currently held in a notorious prison in El Salvador. A lower court had ordered his return to the United States by midnight. The Trump administration admitted the deportation was due to an administrative error, yet claimed it could not bring him back due to his custody in El Salvador.

The Justice Department argued that the order to return Abrego Garcia is unprecedented and accused federal courts of overstepping their power. Solicitor General D. John Sauer stated, "The Constitution charges the president, not federal district courts, with the conduct of foreign diplomacy." Abrego Garcia's attorneys countered, stating there is no evidence preventing his return.

Abrego Garcia, who has no criminal record in the U.S., was deported despite a previous immigration judge's ruling that withheld his removal due to threats from gangs in El Salvador.

The Supreme Court's decision provides temporary relief to the administration but leaves Abrego Garcia in limbo. His wife, Jennifer Stefania Vasquez Sura, expressed hope following a recent appeals court ruling in their favor.

The court is expected to address the case promptly, with Abrego Garcia's attorneys required to respond by Tuesday.