GREENBELT, Md. (RTW) — A federal judge in Maryland ruled Thursday that Kilmar Abrego Garcia must be released from immigration detention while he fights his deportation in court. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ordered the immediate release of Abrego Garcia, stating he had been held without lawful authority following his wrongful detention in El Salvador.
Abrego Garcia, who has lived in Maryland with his American wife and child after coming to the U.S. illegally as a teenager, was mistakenly deported to El Salvador earlier this year. He has been the face of opposition to stricter immigration policies under former President Donald Trump, particularly after he escaped imminent danger from gangs in El Salvador targeting his family.
Following his return to the U.S. under court order, Garcia faced renewed threats from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which aimed to deport him to various African countries. His ongoing lawsuit claims that ICE's actions are retaliatory due to his wrongful deportation episode.
In parallel, Abrego Garcia is also working on petitioning to reopen his asylum case. Complicating matters, he also faces criminal charges related to human smuggling in Tennessee, to which he has pled not guilty. His legal team argues these charges are a form of vindictive prosecution following his high-profile immigration case.
Abrego Garcia, who has lived in Maryland with his American wife and child after coming to the U.S. illegally as a teenager, was mistakenly deported to El Salvador earlier this year. He has been the face of opposition to stricter immigration policies under former President Donald Trump, particularly after he escaped imminent danger from gangs in El Salvador targeting his family.
Following his return to the U.S. under court order, Garcia faced renewed threats from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which aimed to deport him to various African countries. His ongoing lawsuit claims that ICE's actions are retaliatory due to his wrongful deportation episode.
In parallel, Abrego Garcia is also working on petitioning to reopen his asylum case. Complicating matters, he also faces criminal charges related to human smuggling in Tennessee, to which he has pled not guilty. His legal team argues these charges are a form of vindictive prosecution following his high-profile immigration case.
