rki.news
Source: Anadolu Agency
A federal judge in Maryland has ordered the immediate release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from ICE custody, marking a key development in the case of the El Salvadoran man who was wrongfully deported earlier this year and later returned to the United States.
District Judge Paula Xinis ruled that Abrego Garcia had been re-detained without lawful authority since his return from El Salvador. “For this reason, the Court will GRANT Abrego Garcia’s petition for immediate release from ICE custody,” Xinis wrote, emphasizing that judicial intervention was necessary due to the prolonged detention.
Abrego Garcia’s case has highlighted tensions in US immigration enforcement, including the Trump administration’s efforts to deport him to multiple countries, such as Liberia. The man had faced human smuggling charges upon his return and was briefly detained in Tennessee before being released in August.
Judge Xinis criticized ICE officials for failing to deport Garcia to Costa Rica in August despite the opportunity, calling their reluctance “inexplicable.” She noted that the detention was not primarily for effectuating removal, supporting the decision to release him immediately.
The Department of Homeland Security condemned the ruling, calling it “judicial activism” and vowing to challenge it in court.
Abrego Garcia remains under strict pre-trial release conditions, including residing under the custody of his brother in Maryland and restrictions on travel outside the state without court approval.
This ruling represents a significant moment in the ongoing legal and political debates surrounding US immigration policy and the treatment of individuals wrongfully deported.