The Trump administration filed a motion Friday asking a federal judge in Maryland to lift court orders preventing the detention and removal of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national facing human smuggling charges. Officials said they are prepared to deport him to Liberia and have submitted a “mock itinerary” showing a flight could occur within five days of court approval.

Abrego Garcia, who had been living in Maryland with his family, was deported to El Salvador in March 2025 despite a 2019 order barring removal there due to fears of persecution. He was later returned to the U.S. to face criminal charges and pleaded not guilty.

According to the court filing, Abrego Garcia was paroled into the U.S. on June 6, 2025, released on bond in August, and taken into ICE custody in Baltimore pending removal. An immigration judge subsequently issued a nunc pro tunc order designating El Salvador as his removal country, effective from October 2019.

The administration now points to Liberia, which agreed in October 2025 to accept Abrego Garcia with diplomatic assurances regarding his treatment. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons chose to disregard Abrego Garcia’s request to be sent to Costa Rica instead.

Government lawyers are asking the court to rule by April 17, allowing removal to proceed immediately if approved. The case centers on whether the judge will allow the administration to act on a removal plan it says is ready to execute.