BALTIMORE (AP) — According to a recent court document, the U.S. government is set to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia, potentially executing the removal by October 31.

Abrego Garcia, a native of El Salvador, has become a central figure in the criticism of former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies after being erroneously deported to El Salvador against a previous settlement agreement. The U.S. Supreme Court intervened, mandating his return to the United States in June. With re-deportation to El Salvador off the table, ICE has been exploring options to send him to various African nations.

A Maryland federal judge had earlier halted his immediate deportation. Abrego Garcia’s lawsuit argues that the Trump administration is misusing the deportation framework to retaliate for the embarrassment caused by his wrongful deportation.

The Department of Homeland Security, in a Friday filing, highlighted Liberia as a stable democracy and a close ally of the United States in Africa. The document points out that English is Liberia’s official language and praises its constitution for its strong human rights safeguards. It also emphasizes Liberia’s commitment to treating refugees humanely, suggesting that Abrego Garcia’s deportation could occur by the end of October.

Attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, representing Abrego Garcia, criticized the government’s attempts to deport his client to Liberia, a country with no ties to him, separating him from his family in Maryland. Sandoval-Moshenberg noted that Costa Rica is willing to accept Abrego Garcia as a refugee, presenting a feasible and legal alternative. He condemned the government’s approach as deliberately harsh, punitive, and unconstitutional.

Abrego Garcia has an American wife and child and lived in Maryland for years, but he immigrated to the U.S. illegally as a teenager. In 2019, an immigration judge granted him protection from being deported back to El Salvador, where he faces a “well-founded fear” of violence from a gang that targeted his family, according to court filings. In a separate action in immigration court, Abrego Garcia has applied for asylum in the United States.

Additionally, Abrego Garcia is facing criminal charges in federal court in Tennessee, where he has pleaded not guilty to human smuggling. He has filed a motion to dismiss the charges, claiming the prosecution is vindictive.