Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told Congress his department has no objection to deporting Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to Costa Rica, potentially ending a year-long legal battle. Mullin stated officials would be 'happy to send him' if he's willing to go, marking a stark departure from previous administration policy.

Garcia has repeatedly offered to accept deportation to Costa Rica, which has agreed to grant him refugee status. Yet for months, officials attempted to send him to Uganda, Ghana, Eswatini, and Liberia after his wrongful expulsion to El Salvador in March 2025 led to imprisonment and torture claims. The Maryland federal judge handling his case previously pressed the administration on why Costa Rica wasn't an option.

Last month, a Nashville judge dismissed criminal charges against Garcia, ruling they were filed as retaliation for his legal challenges. That judge called the indictment 'an abuse of prosecuting power' designed to let the administration save face while complying with court orders.

Garcia's lawyers immediately forwarded Mullin's remarks to Judge Paula Xinis, who will decide whether the Trump administration can proceed with Liberia deportation plans. The Justice Department files its response next week, bringing this contentious immigration case closer to resolution.