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A federal judge has ruled the prompt discharge of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from detention by ICE, concluding his continued detainment lacks lawful basis.

"Since Abrego Garcia's return from erroneous imprisonment in El Salvador, he has been re-detained, again without legal justification," the judge wrote in her order.

The situation stems from a mistaken removal to El Salvador in March, which the government later admitted was an mistake. After his repatriation to the United States to face human smuggling allegations, he was held in immigration detention.

In her order, the judge noted that the government does not have a current removal order, which effectively blocks them from deporting Mr. Abrego Garcia "at this time."

Background of the Legal Challenge

The court proceedings center on conflicting claims. While the Trump administration argues that Abrego Garcia is a affiliate of the MS-13 gang, he vehemently disputes this claim.

He has also pleaded not guilty to the conspiracy counts, which are part of a separate criminal case in Tennessee.

Conditions of Release

The judge, who was hearing his challenge to deportation in a Maryland district court, ruled that he must now comply with the terms of his bond from jail in Tennessee. This decision shifts his monitoring to the jurisdiction handling his criminal case.

This ruling represents a notable turn in a complicated legal battle involving allegations of wrongful detention and contested criminal affiliations.