It remained unclear whether the diplomatic effort was a genuine bid by the White House to address the plight of the immigrant, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia.

U.S. President Donald Trump says he could help return an El Salvadoran man mistakenly deported from Maryland but would not despite court-ordered action, in contrast to his administration's arguments that only El Salvador can act.

US President Donald Trump has acknowledged he does have the ability to bring back a man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, but that he will not do so. Kilmar Ábrego García was removed from the US in March.