Abrego Garcia remains in federal custody after a US judge delayed his conditional release, citing growing concerns that immigration officials might deport him before his trial begins. The move follows conflicting claims from federal authorities about his immigration status, raising alarms among his defense team.
Judge Barbara Holmes ruled he posed no threat to public safety and approved his supervised release, but she paused the decision after his attorneys questioned the government’s assurances.
Conflicting Claims Raise Red Flags
The legal standoff began after DOJ spokesperson Chad Gilmartin told the press that Abrego Garcia would remain in the U.S. for trial. But hours earlier, another DOJ attorney had informed a Maryland court that deportation plans were underway to send Garcia to an undisclosed third country.
These contradictions led defense attorneys to declare they had “no faith” in the government’s promises. A DHS spokesperson added fuel by stating, “he will never go free on American soil.” This isn’t the first time Garcia has faced irregular immigration actions. In March, immigration authorities mistakenly deported him to El Salvador despite a 2019 court order protecting him from removal, sending him back to a country where he feared gang violence.
Under legal pressure, the US brought him back in June. But his lawyers now believe the government is attempting to sidestep due process by rushing deportation before trial.
Abrego Garcia Legal Battle Intensifies
The case has become a flashpoint in the broader immigration debate. On June 13, Garcia pleaded not guilty to human smuggling charges related to a 2022 Tennessee traffic stop, where he was found with nine undocumented passengers. His attorneys called the charges “preposterous” and accused the government of trying him in the “court of public opinion.”
Acting US Attorney Rob McGuire told the court that he lacked authority over ICE, further muddying the enforcement situation. A new hearing scheduled for July 16 will determine whether prosecutors can overturn the earlier release order. Until then, Abrego Garcia remains locked up in Nashville.
