Kilmar Abrego Garcia

By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

A Maryland judge has ruled that Kilmar Abrego Garcia be released immediately from his immigration detention.

US District Judge Paula Xinis ordered that Abrego Garcia be released from the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania, arguing that he was held "without lawful authority." 

"Since Abrego Garcia’s return from wrongful detention in El Salvador, he has been re-detained, again without lawful authority," the ruling states.

"For this reason, the Court will grant Abrego Garcia's Petition for immediate release from ICE custody." 

Abrego Garcia has lived with his family in Maryland for years, but illegally entered the country from El Salvador. 

He has sought asylum, and a judge previously ruled he could not be sent back there, because he faced possible danger.

Earlier this year, he was mistakenly deported to a notorious El Salvador prison, setting off a political firestorm and several controversies centering on the government's crackdown on immigrants.

He will now be reunited with his wife and child.

In 1999, Abrego Garcia illegally entered the US as a teenager, fearing for his life in his native country. A judge later ruled that he could not be deported back to El Salvador due to the gang targeting his family.

Abrego Garcia was later returned to the US, though ICE officials have continued efforts to deport him to different countries at different points, including Uganda and other African nations to which he has no ties.

Abrego Garcia still faces criminal charges in Tennessee that are linked to a 2022 traffic stop. It is unclear where the Trump administration may try to send him.

"His lawyers tried to fight his removal from the US, but one thing is certain, this Salvadoran man is not going to be able to remain in our country," Homeland Security posted the last time Abrego Garcia was released. 

"He will never be allowed to prey on innocent Americans again."