Abrego Garcia to Remain in Jail Amid Deportation Concerns

A federal judge in Tennessee has ordered a delay in the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia after his legal team raised concerns that he could be deported upon release. Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador for three months by the Trump administration, then returned to the U.S. where he now faces federal human smuggling charges.

On Friday, the acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee said the delay will remain in place pending further court orders. Abrego Garcia's legal team requested the delay, citing conflicting reports from the federal government over whether he would be allowed to stay in the U.S. while his criminal case moves through the courts.

His attorneys pointed to an emergency hearing in Maryland where the government said it planned to deport him to a third country as soon as he is released from jail. Because of contradictory statements from the Department of Justice, his attorneys requested to delay the release order.

Abrego Garcia was initially ordered released on bail by a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Nashville, but the federal government requested a stay of the ruling. U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw of Tennessee also found no justification to continue detaining Abrego Garcia.

There was concern that Abrego Garcia would be taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement upon his release. ICE has said he must be deported regardless of the trial outcome. Abrego Garcia, 29, was deported to El Salvador in March despite a court order barring his removal to that country due to fear of persecution.

In June, he was brought back to the U.S. to face federal charges alleging that he conspired to transport migrants without legal status from Texas to various parts of the U.S. between 2016 and 2025.

According to the source: NPR.