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A federal judge has ruled the immediate discharge of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from detention by ICE, concluding his continued confinement is without legal authority.

"Since Abrego Garcia's release after wrongful detention in El Salvador, he has been taken back into custody, again without lawful authority," the judge wrote in her order.

The case stems from a erroneous deportation to El Salvador earlier this year, which US authorities later admitted was an mistake. After his return to the United States to face human smuggling charges, he was held in federal detention.

In her decision, the court pointed out that the government does not have a current removal order, which effectively blocks them from removing Mr. Abrego Garcia "at this time."

Context of the Legal Challenge

The court challenge center on conflicting assertions. Whereas the Trump administration argues that Abrego Garcia is a affiliate of the MS-13 gang, he categorically denies this claim.

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

Terms of Release

The judge, who was hearing his petition to deportation in a Maryland district court, determined that he must now comply with the terms of his release from custody in Tennessee. This decision effectively transfers his supervision to the Tennessee court.

This decision marks a notable development in a complicated immigration battle featuring allegations of mistaken imprisonment and contested criminal affiliations.