A Knoxville man, who was deported in defiance of a federal judge’s directive to remain in the U.S., has returned to American soil, leaving his community in turmoil.

Diego Hernandez Garcia, who was granted special immigrant juvenile status in 2022, found himself detained by immigration officials in Knoxville and subsequently deported to El Salvador. Despite the legal protections supposedly afforded to him, Garcia’s unexpected deportation has caused significant concern among his friends and family. His attorneys have confirmed his return to the United States, though he currently remains in ICE custody in Louisiana, separated from his loved ones in East Tennessee during the holiday season.