Judges pave way for Abrego Garcia’s return to Maryland

The Trump administration must release Kilmar Abrego Garcia on his criminal charges in Tennessee, and immigration authorities must allow him to return to Maryland on supervision without taking him into custody, two judges separately ruled Wednesday. 

The rulings allow Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to restart Abrego Garcia’s immigration proceedings in Baltimore once he is back, but ICE must also provide 72-hours’ notice before trying to remove the man to a country where he has no ties. 

It marks a victory for Abrego Garcia’s lawyers in their quest to limit the administration from again swiftly deporting the man, who was mistakenly removed to El Salvador in March where he spent weeks in a notorious megaprison. He was later returned to Tennessee to face two human smuggling felonies. 

Abrego Garcia’s release from Tennessee jail on those charges won’t be immediate. Before that occurs, a magistrate judge will still consider a request from Abrego Garcia to delay the transfer by 30 days, which the administration does not oppose. 

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