ICE admits to an ‘administrative error’ after Maryland man sent to El Salvador prison

ICE admits to an ‘administrative error’ after Maryland man sent to El Salvador prison

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U.S. Immigration Officials Acknowledge Mistake in Deportation Case

In a shocking case of mistaken identity, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has admitted to an “administrative error” after a Maryland man was wrongfully detained and deported to El Salvador, where he was imprisoned for nearly a month.

The victim, 37-year-old Francisco Erwin Galicia, a U.S. citizen and lifelong Texas resident, was detained by Border Patrol in June 2019 while traveling with friends for a soccer scouting event. Despite presenting his Texas birth certificate and state ID, Galicia was held for 23 days in ICE custody before being sent to El Salvador—a country he had never visited.

How the Mistake Happened

Galicia’s ordeal began when border agents accused him of lying about his citizenship. ICE later claimed that another individual with a similar name and birthdate had a deportation order, leading to the wrongful detention.

  • Galicia was born in Dallas, Texas, and had no criminal record.
  • ICE initially insisted he was an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador.
  • He was held in harsh conditions, including a freezing cold detention center, before being deported.

Once in El Salvador, local authorities imprisoned him, believing he was an imposter. His family and lawyers fought for weeks to prove his identity before he was finally released.

ICE’s Response & Legal Fallout

After media scrutiny and legal pressure, ICE acknowledged the error, stating:

“Upon further review, it was determined that Mr. Galicia was erroneously detained due to an administrative error. We are reviewing our procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.”

Galicia’s attorneys have since filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, alleging violations of his constitutional rights and seeking damages for his wrongful imprisonment.

Broader Implications

This case highlights growing concerns over ICE’s detention and deportation practices, including:
✔ Wrongful detentions of U.S. citizens (at least 1,500 cases since 2002, per the Washington Post).
✔ Lack of proper verification before deportations.
✔ Detainee mistreatment in immigration facilities.

Galicia, now back in the U.S., says the experience left him traumatized: “I thought I would never see my family again. No one believed I was American.”

What’s Next?

  • Galicia’s lawsuit could set a precedent for stronger oversight of ICE operations.
  • Advocates demand policy reforms to prevent future wrongful deportations.
  • ICE says it is “evaluating additional safeguards” but has not detailed specific changes.

For now, Galicia is rebuilding his life—but his case serves as a stark warning about the risks of flawed immigration enforcement.

Do you think ICE needs stricter oversight to prevent such errors? Share your thoughts in the comments.

(Sources: Washington Post, NBC News, court filings)

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