U.S. complies with Ghana’s refusal to accept Salvadoran deportee Abrego Garcia – Ablakwa

The government of Ghana has confirmed that the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has formally complied with Ghana’s refusal to accept Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national at the centre of an international deportation controversy.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who initially denied the existence of such an arrangement, announced on his Facebook page on Friday, October 10, that Ghana’s position had been “duly acknowledged and complied with” by U.S. authorities.

Read Also: Ablakwa counters U.S. reports, says Ghana has no deal to accept Abrego Garcia

“We also note with satisfaction that DHS has today taken the appropriate steps to inform Garcia’s lawyers and amend court submissions to reflect the fact that Ghana cannot be an option for Garcia’s deportation,” Ablakwa stated.

He reaffirmed that Ghana had never agreed to receive Garcia, stressing that the government had consistently maintained its stance throughout discussions with the U.S.

“The Mahama Administration will continue to be transparent and truthful to Ghanaians at all times,” Ablakwa assured, adding that the government’s humanitarian policy of accepting limited numbers of non-criminal West Africans “does not, and will not apply to persons from other regions or those facing criminal allegations.”

The development follows earlier reports that the DHS had considered Ghana as a potential deportation destination for Garcia after failed attempts to return him to El Salvador, where a court order had barred his removal due to credible fears of persecution.

The government has faced some criticism in recent times for accepting some West African nationals deported by the United States into the country.

Background on Kilmar Abrego Garcia

Abrego Garcia was wrongfully deported to El Salvador in March 2025, despite a 2019 U.S. court order that shielded him from removal due to credible threats he would face gang-related persecution if sent back to El Salvador.

His deportation was later acknowledged by U.S. authorities as an “administrative error,” and he was returned to the U.S. in June 2025 following court orders. Upon return, he was indicted in Tennessee on human smuggling charges. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

His legal team argues that these charges may be vindictive, given the timing and context of his deportation lawsuit. A U.S. judge has allowed his legal challenge to the deportation to proceed.

His asylum request was rejected by a U.S. court, but he retains the right to appeal.

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