🔗 Share this article Federal Judge Mandates Freedom of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from ICE Detention A federal judge has ordered the prompt release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from immigration custody, finding his continued confinement is without lawful basis. "Since Abrego Garcia's release after wrongful detention in El Salvador, he has been taken back into custody, again without legal justification," Judge Paula Xinis wrote in her order. The case stems from a mistaken deportation to El Salvador in March, which US authorities later acknowledged was an error. After his return to the United States to face alien smuggling charges, he was held in federal custody. In her order, the judge pointed out that the government does not have a current removal order, which effectively blocks them from deporting Mr. Abrego Garcia "at this juncture." Background of the Case The court challenge center on disputed assertions. Whereas the former administration argues that Abrego Garcia is a affiliate of the MS-13 gang, he categorically disputes this allegation. He has also pleaded not guilty to the conspiracy counts, which are part of a ongoing criminal case in Tennessee. Terms of Freedom The judge, who was overseeing his challenge to deportation in a federal court, ruled that he must now comply with the conditions of his release from custody in Tennessee. This decision effectively transfers his supervision to the Tennessee court. This ruling represents a notable development in a complex legal battle involving claims of wrongful detention and disputed gang associations.