Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man whose case has captured national attention, was released from Putnam County Jail in Tennessee this Friday, according to his attorney. The evidence suggests that Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, where he alleges he was tortured, has now been reunited with his family as he awaits the commencement of his trial.
Abrego Garcia was initially detained by immigration officials in March before being sent to El Salvador. Reports indicate that he returned to U.S. soil in June to face charges brought against him in Tennessee. The Justice Department accuses him of both smuggling and gang membership, allegations his family vehemently denies. He took a stand of not guilty to two criminal counts of human smuggling last month.
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His attorney, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, has expressed relief but also concern at his client’s release. “While his release brings some relief, we all know that he is far from safe. ICE detention or deportation to an unknown third country still threatens to tear his family apart,” Sandoval-Moshenberg said. “A measure of justice has been done, but the government must stop pursuing actions that would once again separate this family.”
A federal magistrate had ordered Abrego Garcia’s release from jail while he awaits trial, which is currently scheduled for January. It has been reported that he will be required to wear an electronic monitoring device.
Abrego Garcia’s lawyers had previously requested a delay of his release from jail in Tennessee, fearing immediate detainment and potential deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The facts, as we now know them, are that last month a federal judge in Maryland ruled that the government must return Abrego Garcia to supervised release under the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Baltimore, re-implementing an order from 2019. Under this supervision order, Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran, had authorization to live and work in Maryland.
The judge also ruled that Abrego Garcia must receive 72 hours’ notice if the administration plans to deport him anywhere other than his country of origin, El Salvador.
