Even alleged MS-13 gangbanger Kilmar Abrego Garcia will be home for the holidays.
U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis extended an order preventing federal authorities from re-detaining Abrego Garcia Monday.
The federal judge cited concerns that the administration might try to arrest Abrego Garcia “in the middle of the night” before he could face justice, according to The Washington Post.
“Once again, I’m making a finding that these representations, which are misrepresentations, are in bad faith,” she told Justice Department lawyer Ernesto H. Molina Jr., adding that she was “beyond impatient” with the Trump administration’s lawyers, whom she accused of putting false information in their legal briefs, the outlet reported.
Xinis ordered Abrego Garcia’s release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, on December 11, saying that the federal government had no legal basis to detain him.
The Trump administration deported Abrego Garcia to his home country of El Salvador in March due to an “administrative error.”
Abrego Garcia, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2011, was brought back to the U.S. in June on human smuggling charges stemming from a 2022 Tennessee traffic stop. During the incident, Abrego Garcia was pulled over while hauling eight other passengers.
Christmas Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships
Authorities became suspicious when they didn’t see any luggage in the car, despite the group having traveled for days from Texas to Maryland. A responding officer noted that he suspected “a human trafficking incident.”
They ultimately let Abrego Garcia go with a citation for driving with an expired license.
The federal government now has until Friday to provide its plans for Abrego Garcia, his attorney said.
“So, as of right now, Mr. Abrego Garcia is gonna return to his home with his wife and his children and his family members in Maryland. And he will be at home through Christmas and New Year,” the lawyer told a crowd of cheering supporters outside the courthouse Monday.
Abrego Garcia quickly became a darling of many Democratic lawmakers, including Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, who paid him a visit while he was detained in El Salvador.
Along with the human smuggling allegations, Abrego Garcia was tagged as a member of MS-13 in a 2019 Maryland police report and a 2018 court filing.
He was also twice accused of beating his wife, who previously applied for protective orders against him. She has since emerged as one of his most vocal advocates against his deportation.
.png)
.png)
