Federal Judge Orders Release of Man at Center of Trump Deportation Case

A federal judge ruled Thursday that the Trump administration lacks the authority to continue holding Kilmar Abrego Garcia in an immigration detention center and ordered his immediate release.

The decision by Judge Paula Xinis of the U.S. District Court in Maryland is the latest development in a case that has drawn attention to the administration's mass deportation policies. In her ruling, Judge Xinis wrote that "since Abrego Garcia's wrongful detention in El Salvador, he has been re-detained, again without lawful authority."

Federal officials acknowledged in April that an administrative error led to Abrego Garcia's initial detention and deportation to El Salvador. After being returned to the United States in June, he was immediately charged with human smuggling in Tennessee, stemming from a 2022 traffic stop.

The Trump administration has maintained that Abrego Garcia is a member of a Salvadoran gang and should not be permitted to remain in the country. Abrego Garcia and his family have denied any gang affiliation and assert he has not been convicted of any crimes.

Abrego Garcia still faces trial on the Tennessee charges.