Federal Judge Orders Release of Immigration Detainee Kilmar Abrego Garcia Amid Ongoing Deportation Efforts
A US District Court judge in Maryland has ruled that the Trump administration lacked authority to hold immigration detainee Kilmar Abrego Garcia at an ICE facility, effectively ordering his release. The decision came after Garcia was wrongly removed from El Salvador and returned to the United States over the summer.
Garcia's lawyers say he has been released from the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania, citing a lack of final removal order. In her ruling, Judge Paula Xinis stated that Garcia's removal cannot be considered reasonably foreseeable, imminent, or consistent with due process. She also noted that his wrongful detention in El Salvador was without lawful authority.
Garcia had been re-detained multiple times since his return to the US after being mistakenly deported from El Salvador. His lawyers described Thursday's ruling as an "extraordinary victory for our client and for due process," but cautioned that they will remain vigilant to ensure nothing undermines the court's decision.
Critics of the judge's order, including the Department of Homeland Security, labeled it as "naked judicial activism." However, Garcia's lawyers are hopeful that this marks a turning point in his case. They added that the ruling confirms the rule of law still matters and that government agencies must comply fully with court directives.
Garcia was first detained by ICE after being arrested for soliciting work outside a Home Depot in Maryland. He had been granted "withholding of removal" due to credible gang threats in El Salvador, but the Trump administration deported him anyway.
A US District Court judge in Maryland has ruled that the Trump administration lacked authority to hold immigration detainee Kilmar Abrego Garcia at an ICE facility, effectively ordering his release. The decision came after Garcia was wrongly removed from El Salvador and returned to the United States over the summer.
Garcia's lawyers say he has been released from the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania, citing a lack of final removal order. In her ruling, Judge Paula Xinis stated that Garcia's removal cannot be considered reasonably foreseeable, imminent, or consistent with due process. She also noted that his wrongful detention in El Salvador was without lawful authority.
Garcia had been re-detained multiple times since his return to the US after being mistakenly deported from El Salvador. His lawyers described Thursday's ruling as an "extraordinary victory for our client and for due process," but cautioned that they will remain vigilant to ensure nothing undermines the court's decision.
Critics of the judge's order, including the Department of Homeland Security, labeled it as "naked judicial activism." However, Garcia's lawyers are hopeful that this marks a turning point in his case. They added that the ruling confirms the rule of law still matters and that government agencies must comply fully with court directives.
Garcia was first detained by ICE after being arrested for soliciting work outside a Home Depot in Maryland. He had been granted "withholding of removal" due to credible gang threats in El Salvador, but the Trump administration deported him anyway.
. It's crazy how some people can just get stuck like that and be held without a proper reason. I mean, I remember when I was in college, we had these students who got detained by the authorities for not having their papers sorted out... it was so frustrating for them.
. I feel bad for him, you know? And the fact that the judge had to rule on it like that, it's just... wow.
. I mean, sometimes the courts have to step in and say "hey, wait a minute". But at the same time, you gotta wonder if some of these people would be so quick to criticize if they were in Garcia's shoes... just saying 
And now the judge is ruling that they can't hold him anymore because it wasn't done properly. It's like, you'd think the system would have better checks in place to prevent this kind of thing from happening.
But Garcia's lawyers are just trying to do what's right and ensure that justice is served. And honestly, it's about time someone spoke up for due process. It's a fundamental right, but it seems like sometimes the government forgets that.
he's been through so much already and it's amazing that a judge is standing up for his rights. i'm glad his lawyers are being super careful too, we don't want anything to undo the court's decision 
it's like, yeah we know there are deportation efforts going on but that doesn't mean people can be wrongly detained forever... this ruling shows that due process matters and that's what we need more of in our country 
. kilmar abrego garcia was basically held in a detention center without any clear reason why he should be there, and now the judge is saying that was a no-go 
. it's not just about him, either - this sets a precedent for other immigrants who might be facing similar situations 
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. One thing's for sure, though - Kilmar Abrego Garcia is one lucky guy who got a second chance at life 
. This ruling sends a powerful message that even in the midst of chaos and controversy, our courts can still uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of vulnerable individuals like Kilmar. It's heartbreaking to think about what he went through – being wrongly deported from his own country and then held captive again in the US 
. The fact that his lawyers are pushing for him to be released is a testament to their dedication to ensuring due process is followed, and I hope this marks a major turning point in Kilmar's case 
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. Now, let's work towards creating a more just and compassionate society for everyone 
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The whole thing just stinks - we have to ask ourselves what kind of system allows people to be detained and removed without any final order? It's a clear case of abuse of power... 
Does that even make sense? The fact is, a court decision is supposed to be fair and based on rules, not some arbitrary rule-set.
. We were talking about how nature has a way of making everything feel more chill and less stressful. It's like, you know when you're walking through the woods and all the sounds and smells just blend together in this beautiful way? It's like your brain is saying "ah yeah, let's take a deep breath and relax for a second". I'm not saying that's directly related to Kilmar's case or anything 
it's about time someone stood up for due process and the rule of law 
like, hello courts are there to ensure we're not getting away with abuse of power or what?
it shows that even in these crazy times, there's still hope for justice and accountability 
so here's to Judge Xinis and all the other judges and advocates fighting for human rights 
. I mean, who gets deported from their own country and then brought back? It's like something out of a movie!