Federal judge blocks ICE from detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia upon release from custody

A federal judge on Wednesday ruled that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials and the Trump administration cannot apprehend Kilmar Abrego Garcia upon his release from jail.

The administration has stated that it plans to deport Abrego Garcia to a third party country if he is released, while he awaits a criminal trial on human smuggling charges in Tennessee.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ruled that the federal government "shall restore Abrego Garcia to his ICE Order of Supervision out of the Baltimore Field Office," paving the way for his return to Maryland, ABC News reported. 

Abrego Garcia emerged as a focal point of the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration earlier this year, after he was deported back to his home country of El Salvador despite a court order that allowed him to remain in the U.S. for his own safety. He was returned to the U.S. last month. 

The decision comes the same day that another judge declined to revoke an earlier order that allowed Abrego Garcia to be released and placed under home detention, ruling that he posed no flight risk.

Federal prosecutors allege Abrego Garcia transported hundreds of illegal migrants over many years, but he has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.