2nd protective order from Abrego Garcia’s wife alleges death threat
New details are surfacing surrounding domestic abuse allegations against Kilmar Abrego Garcia. A 2020 protective order request, filed by his wife Jennifer Vasquez Sura, has come to light.
In the petition, Sura allegedly wrote that Abrego Garcia told her ex-mother-in-law that even if he killed her, “no one can do anything to him.” Before detailing the alleged death threat, Sura said Abrego Garcia demanded her car key and locked two of their children in a room.
She stated, “I went to the car and found a phone and called 911.” She reported that she could hear the children “crying and screaming.”
Sura also alleged she called 911, and when police arrived he acted violent with them and broke her phone in front of the officer. She claimed she had “photos of all the bruises he’s left” on her body.
According to the filing, he has “broken TVs, her son’s tablet, car windshield,” and more. Sura stated, “Me and my kids are afraid now. He’s kicked me, pushed me, slapped me in the face [and] threaten[ed] me.”
Separate from 2021 petition
This protective order — detailing six incidents — was filed in 2020, and is separate from the 2021 protective order that had been previously reported. The 2020 order was dropped eight days after it was filed, following a request by Sura to rescind it. In her request, she cited her son’s upcoming birthday and said Abrego Garcia had agreed to counseling.
In the 2021 court filing, Sura alleged that Abrego Garcia punched and scratched her eye, causing her to bleed, and ripped her shorts and shirt off. She also wrote, “At this point, I am afraid to be close to him. I have multiple photos/videos of how violent he can be and all the bruises he has left me.”
New DHS statement
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was the first to surface the 2020 protective order in a recent press release.
DHS wrote, “The facts are clear: Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a violent illegal alien who abuses women and children. He had no business being in our country and we are proud to have deported this violent thug. We have now found two petitions for protection against him, in addition to the fact that he entered the country illegally and is a confirmed member of MS-13. Our country is safer with him gone.”
Wife’s response
When asked about the domestic violence incidents described in court documents, Sura issued a statement to the media: “After surviving domestic violence in a previous relationship, I acted out of caution after a disagreement with Kilmar by seeking a protective order in case things escalated. Kilmar has always been a loving partner and father, and I will continue to stand by him and demand justice for him.”
Abrego Garcia’s legal team also responded to the recent allegations, stating they have no connection to his deportation. In an emailed statement to Axios, his attorney, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, said, “If they want to put him on trial for that, they are welcome to bring him back and do so. We’ll defend him in court.”
History on the case
Abrego Garcia was deported in March as part of three deportation flights to El Salvador’s high-security prison. A Department of Justice attorney wrote in a court filing that Abrego Garcia was removed from the U.S. “through an administrative error.” That attorney has since been fired by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Although he was denied asylum by an immigration judge in 2019, Abrego Garcia was granted a “withholding of removal,” meaning he could be deported to any country except El Salvador. He had expressed fear of returning to his home country due to threats from the Barrio 18 gang, which had previously targeted him and his family.
Supreme Court’s ruling fuels different interpretations
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the government must “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return, but found that the lower court overreached by ordering the Trump administration to “effectuate” it. Due to that slight wording difference, the case may return to the high court for clarification.
Abrego Garcia’s attorneys argue that the Supreme Court ordered his return and that his due process rights are being violated. The Department of Justice contends that the U.S. must facilitate his return only if El Salvador agrees to send him back. El Salvador’s president has indicated that will not happen.
Political divide over removal
Since Abrego Garcia’s deportation, a stark political divide has emerged. Democrats have traveled to El Salvador to show support for Abrego Garcia and are fighting for his return. Meanwhile, Republicans argue he was rightfully removed and should never come back.
This division has also been reflected in media coverage. News outlets on the left and right have shaped two entirely different narratives around the case. That was the focus of a Bias Breakdown episode released during the week of April 20, which examined how the media is framing the Abrego Garcia case. The full 20-minute episode is available here.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
