Abrego Garcia released from custody, but deportation threat remains

Abrego Garcia released from custody, but deportation threat remains

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 30, was freed from a Tennessee jail on Friday after a US federal judge ordered his release on bail while he awaits trial on human smuggling charges. For now, he can return to Maryland, where he had been living with his wife and children before his arrest earlier this year. His lawyers called the move a victory for due process, noting that he had already been wrongly deported once to El Salvador in violation of a court order, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Mistaken deportation and return

Immigration officials had picked up Abrego Garcia in March and mistakenly deported him to El Salvador despite a judge’s ruling that he could not be sent there due to gang threats against his family. He was flown into the country and imprisoned in a notorious mega-prison before a US court ordered his return. The administration initially resisted, citing diplomatic considerations, but eventually brought him back to face new criminal charges.

Criminal indictment and trial ahead

In June, the US Justice Department indicted Abrego Garcia on charges of participating in a scheme to transport undocumented immigrants across the US. He pleaded not guilty. Judges overseeing the case have expressed scepticism about the strength of the evidence, with one magistrate saying its reliability was “questionable.” His trial is set for January, but in the meantime, his freedom is tightly restricted: he has been fitted with a GPS monitor and placed under supervision by US Marshals.

Administration vows further deportation

The Trump administration has repeatedly said that Abrego Garcia “will never walk America’s streets again.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem declared on Friday that the government would fight until he is deported permanently. Officials have signalled they could send him to another country — such as Mexico or South Sudan — under agreements that allow third-country deportations. A federal judge has ordered that Abrego Garcia and his lawyers receive at least 72 hours’ notice before any such transfer, giving them a chance to challenge it.

Family reunion under uncertainty

For Abrego Garcia, the immediate future offers a chance to reunite with his wife and children after months in detention and forced deportation abroad. His lawyers arranged for him to make the 700-mile journey back to Maryland, where he will be under immigration supervision in Baltimore. But it is unclear how long he will be able to remain with his family before another deportation attempt is made.

A symbol of a broader crackdown

Abrego Garcia’s case has become emblematic of the Trump administration’s hard-line approach to immigration enforcement, particularly its willingness to pursue third-country deportations even when legal rulings complicate matters. For his supporters, the case illustrates the risks of an aggressive deportation system that can sweep up individuals with deep ties to the US. For the administration, it is a test of its resolve to follow through on promises to expel undocumented immigrants regardless of obstacles.