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.

President Trump said he "could" ask the leader of El Salvador to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who the federal government has admitted was mistakenly deported last month.