MARYLAND NEWS – Delays in release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia continue as fears of immediate deportation mount

Ananya Roy, News Writer

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national facing federal human smuggling charges, will remain in jail while federal prosecutors and defense attorneys continue to debate whether U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could deport him if he is released before trial. Although a magistrate judge ruled that Abrego Garcia is eligible for release and set conditions for him to live with his brother, concerns remain that ICE could detain and deport him upon release.

Abrego Garcia was returned to the U.S. on June 7 after being he was mistakenly deported in March. He has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee, where he was found transporting nine passengers. A federal judge denied prosecutors’ request to delay his release, stating that coordination between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security is needed to prevent any unintended deportation. An evidentiary hearing on whether to revoke the release order is scheduled for July 16.