Federal judge rules Kilmar Abrego Garcia can’t be re-detained by immigration authorities

A federal judge ruled that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national, cannot be re-detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement because his 90-day detention period expired and the government lacks a viable deportation plan. Abrego Garcia, who has an American family and lived in Maryland for years after immigrating illegally, was mistakenly deported to El Salvador last year despite a 2019 ruling protecting him from deportation there. After public pressure, the Trump administration brought him back but pursued deportation to African countries like Uganda, Eswatini, Ghana, and Liberia. The judge noted the government ignored Costa Rica, a country willing to accept him. Abrego Garcia's attorney argued detention is only permissible to facilitate deportation, not as punishment without a viable plan.

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