Jun 30, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Ábrego García's release delayed over deportation concerns

Sareen Habeshian

Family, friends and supporters listen to Attorney Rina Gandhi speak about Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador after Federal Court on April 15, 2025 in Greenbelt, Maryland. The Trump administration admits Abrego Garcia was deported accidentally, but has not yet acted on a — Supporters listen to an attorney speak about Kilmar Ábrego García on April 15 in Greenbelt, Maryland. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Kilmar Ábrego García will remain in jail for now over concerns from his legal team that he could be deported if released while awaiting trial, a federal judge ruled Monday.

The big picture: It comes after the White House last week called a report that quotes prosecutors saying Ábrego García would be sent to an unnamed third country "fake news."

Zoom in: Ábrego García's lawyers asked a judge to delay his release Friday as he awaits trial on human smuggling charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

The lawyers said they were concerned that the U.S. Marshals Service could release him from Tennessee on Friday and then Immigration and Customs Enforcement would remove him over the weekend.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes ruled in an order Monday that he will remain in federal custody until a court appearance in mid-July.

Context: Ábrego García who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador, was returned to the U.S. earlier this month, and the Justice Department was ordered to release him from prison in Tennessee while he awaited trial.

A federal judge said last week that Ábrego García is likely to eventually be deported to El Salvador, where he's originally from.

Go deeper: White House: Report Abrego Garcia will be deported again "fake news"

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Ábrego García's release delayed over deportation concerns

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