GREENBELT, Md. — In a significant legal victory, a federal judge in Maryland has ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from immigration detention while he contests his deportation. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis made the ruling on Thursday, emphasizing ICE's lack of lawful authority to detain Garcia.
Since Abrego Garcia's return from wrongful detention in El Salvador, he has been re-detained, again without lawful authority, Judge Xinis stated. This decision comes as Garcia, a Salvadoran national with an American wife and child, has been embroiled in a contentious immigration battle.
Garcia originally immigrated to the U.S. illegally as a teenager and has lived in Maryland for several years. In 2019, an immigration judge ruled that he could not be deported to El Salvador due to threats from gang violence against his family. However, in March, Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, prompting public outrage and advocacy for his situation.
Upon his return to the U.S. under a court order, Garcia has faced efforts by ICE to deport him to various African countries. His legal team contends that the Trump administration's actions aim to punish him for the earlier deportation mistake.
In a separate legal case, Garcia is attempting to reopen his immigration status to seek asylum in the United States. Furthermore, he faces criminal charges in Tennessee related to human smuggling, of which he has pleaded not guilty, claiming vindictiveness in the prosecution.
The unfolding story reflects larger issues within the U.S. immigration system, emphasizing the struggles faced by many undocumented immigrants and the complexities of their legal battles for justice and safety.
