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A court has ordered the prompt discharge of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from immigration custody, finding his continued detainment is without lawful basis.

"Since his release after erroneous imprisonment in El Salvador, he has been taken back into custody, again without lawful authority," the judge wrote in her ruling.

The case stems from a mistaken deportation to El Salvador in March, which US authorities later acknowledged was an error. After his return to the United States to answer human smuggling charges, he was held in federal detention.

In her decision, the court noted that the government does not have a valid deportation order, which prevents them from deporting Mr. Abrego Garcia "at this time."

Background of the Case

The legal proceedings involve conflicting claims. While the former administration argues that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang, he categorically denies this claim.

He has also pleaded not guilty to the conspiracy counts, which are part of a ongoing trial in Tennessee.

Conditions of Freedom

The judge, who was hearing his challenge to deportation in a federal court, determined that he must now comply with the conditions of his release from custody in Tennessee. This order effectively transfers his supervision to the jurisdiction handling his criminal case.

This ruling marks a significant development in a complicated immigration battle featuring claims of wrongful detention and disputed criminal affiliations.