Federal Judge Blocks Kilmar Abrego Garcia's Deportation Amid Legal Battle and Trump Administration Statements
A federal judge has blocked Kilmar Abrego Garcia's deportation until October, as his lawyers seek to reopen his immigration case and prevent the Trump administration from making prejudicial public statements.
Subscribe to unlock this story
We really don't like cutting you off, but you've reached your monthly limit. At just $5/month, subscriptions are how we keep this project going. Start your free 7-day trial today!
Get StartedHave an account? Sign in
Overview
- A federal judge in Maryland has temporarily blocked Kilmar Abrego Garcia's deportation until at least October, ordering he remain in a Virginia detention center for legal access.
- Garcia's legal team is actively working to reopen his immigration case and pursue asylum, following a previous mistaken deportation to El Salvador earlier this year.
- The Trump administration has made public statements, which Garcia denies, claiming he is a violent criminal and a member of the MS-13 gang.
- Garcia's lawyers are seeking legal action to prevent top Trump administration officials from making further inflammatory and prejudicial public attacks.
- Garcia faces a grand jury indictment for human trafficking and charges of transporting undocumented immigrants, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
Report issue
Read both sides in 5 minutes each day
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by focusing on the legal efforts of Kilmar Abrego Garcia's lawyers to counter the Trump administration's "inflammatory comments." They emphasize the lawyers' concerns about a "tainted jury pool" and the administration's "baseless public attacks," presenting the administration's statements as the problem rather than exploring their rationale.
"The Trump administration alleges Abrego Garcia is a danger and is trying to deport him before trial, which is scheduled for January."
Associated Press"The government's ongoing barrage of prejudicial statements severely threaten—and perhaps have already irrevocably impaired—the ability to try this case at all—in any venue."
CBS News"Abrego Garcia's attorneys said "further intervention from the court is necessary" to protect their client's right to a fair trial."
ABC NewsArticles (7)
Center (3)
FAQ
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador in March 2025 despite a 2019 immigration court order granting him withholding of removal status because of the danger posed by gang violence. The Trump administration claimed he was a member of the MS-13 gang, although he denied this, and called the deportation an administrative error. He was imprisoned in El Salvador's CECOT prison without trial during this period.
Abrego Garcia's lawyers have filed a lawsuit challenging his confinement and deportation to any country before he receives a fair immigration court trial. They are also seeking to reopen his immigration case and apply for asylum to prevent his deportation. Additionally, they are seeking legal action to stop the Trump administration from making prejudicial public statements about him.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia faces a grand jury indictment for human trafficking and charges related to transporting undocumented immigrants. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
The Trump administration has publicly labeled Abrego Garcia as an illegal immigrant and a member of the MS-13 gang. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the administration intended to deport him on these grounds, despite his denial of gang affiliation.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked Abrego Garcia’s deportation until at least October, ordering him to remain in a detention center in Virginia within 200 miles of the court in Maryland. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for October 6, 2025, after which the judge will issue a ruling on his deportation challenge. The judge declined to release him from custody, leaving that decision to immigration courts.
History
- This story does not have any previous versions.