Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Salvadoran national who was extradited back to the U.S. after being sent to a notoriously harsh prison in El Salvador, has been released from federal custody in Tennessee and is returning to his home in Maryland.
A federal judge ordered Abrego Garcia’s release, citing the lack of sufficient evidence to justify keeping him in custody and noting the procedural errors in his prior deportation.
A private security company will escort the 29-year-old back home, according to court filings from his attorneys.
Abrego Garcia’s high-profile immigration case became a focal point during the Trump administration, drawing national attention to immigration enforcement policies and the use of executive power.
His lawyers argued that his removal violated a federal judge’s prior order blocking deportation for humanitarian reasons.
Despite this, he was sent to El Salvador on March 15, where he allegedly endured severe mistreatment at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a facility known for brutal conditions.
Court filings detail “severe beatings, severe sleep deprivation, inadequate nutrition, and psychological torture” during his detention.
Federal authorities flew Abrego Garcia back to the United States in June to face a federal criminal case in Tennessee.
He was indicted on two counts: conspiracy to transport undocumented immigrants and unlawful transportation of undocumented aliens, per The Independent.
He has pleaded not guilty.
Federal prosecutors had sought to keep him detained, citing alleged ties to the transnational gang MS-13 and claiming participation in violent crimes.
Other accusations, including trafficking of children, firearms, narcotics and solicitation of child pornography, resulted in no formal charges and a federal judge ruled that the government had not connected these allegations to him.
His attorneys contend the federal case is an example of “vindictive” or “selective prosecution,” claiming senior officials targeted Abrego Garcia after his successful legal fight to return to the United States.
“A group of the most senior officials in the United States sought vengeance: they began a public campaign to punish Mr. Abrego for daring to fight back,” his lawyers wrote in court filings.
They are requesting dismissal of the indictment.
Abrego Garcia originally fled gang violence in El Salvador as a teenager and had been living with his U.S.-born child and wife in Maryland at the time of his arrest.
Despite a federal judge’s order blocking his deportation, the government proceeded with his removal, raising questions about adherence to judicial authority and due process.
Conservative observers say the case underscores how executive overreach and selective enforcement of immigration laws can put individuals at risk, especially when legal orders are ignored.
A senior Department of Homeland Security official stated earlier this week that Abrego Garcia “won’t be on American streets again,” emphasizing the ongoing tension between protecting U.S. citizens and respecting the rights of those in federal custody.
Some legal analysts note that the handling of his case demonstrates a troubling precedent, where political considerations may influence decisions in immigration enforcement and federal prosecutions.
Abrego Garcia’s trial is scheduled to begin in Jan. 2026.
Many see the case as a pivotal example of the challenges in balancing national security, lawful immigration enforcement and protecting individuals from government misconduct.
The high-profile legal battle has prompted renewed discussion about the limits of prosecutorial discretion, the importance of due process, and the consequences of ignoring court orders in sensitive immigration matters.
It also serves as a cautionary tale of the real human cost when administrative errors intersect with heavy-handed immigration enforcement.
The post Kilmar Abrego Garcia Freed from Tennessee Custody Ahead of Trial appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Gloriel Howard
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