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A federal judge has ruled the immediate release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from detention by ICE, finding his ongoing confinement is without legal authority.

"Since Abrego Garcia's release after wrongful detention in El Salvador, he has been re-detained, again without legal justification," the judge wrote in her order.

The situation originates in a mistaken removal to El Salvador in March, which the government later admitted was an error. After his return to the United States to face alien smuggling charges, he was detained in federal detention.

In her decision, the court pointed out that the government lacks a current removal order, which effectively blocks them from deporting Mr. Abrego Garcia "at this juncture."

Context of the Legal Challenge

The legal proceedings center on conflicting assertions. While the former administration argues that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 criminal organization, he categorically disputes this allegation.

He has also entered a not guilty plea to the smuggling counts, which are part of a ongoing trial in the state of Tennessee.

Terms of Freedom

The judge, who was overseeing his challenge to deportation in a Maryland district court, determined that he must now adhere to the terms of his release from jail in Tennessee. This decision shifts his monitoring to the jurisdiction handling his criminal case.

This decision represents a significant development in a complex legal battle involving claims of mistaken imprisonment and contested criminal associations.