Federal Judge Orders Immediate Release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from ICE Custody

A federal judge in Maryland has ordered the immediate release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, determining that his detention lacked lawful authority.

Judge Paula Xinis ruled that Abrego Garcia was "re-detained, again without lawful authority" following his return from El Salvador. The Salvadoran national had been deported in March but was brought back to the United States in June to face human smuggling charges in Tennessee.

After his release from criminal custody in Tennessee, Abrego Garcia was re-arrested by ICE in Maryland during a routine parole check-in. Judge Xinis found that ICE held him without a legal removal order, leading to her decision for his immediate release.

The case has become a focal point in the debate over the Trump administration's immigration policies, with officials labeling Abrego Garcia as a member of the MS-13 gang, despite no convictions. His attorneys have contested these allegations, emphasizing the lack of evidence supporting such claims.