Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has informed the legal representatives of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant, that he faces potential deportation to Uganda following his release from a Tennessee jail.
This development was reported by Fox News, which obtained documents from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. These documents indicate that Abrego Garcia's lawyers were notified of the possibility of deportation to Uganda within a minimum of 72 hours, with instructions for him to report to an ICE office in Baltimore by Monday.
As reported by Fox News, this situation arises after Uganda agreed to a deal with the United States to accept third-party deportations. After his release, U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes placed Abrego Garcia under the supervision of his brother as a third-party custodian, pending trial. He is required to wear an electronic monitoring device and must check in with Pretrial Services in Maryland by 10 a.m. on Monday.
Abrego Garcia's legal troubles began earlier this year when he was deported to El Salvador due to suspicions of being an MS-13 gang member, despite an immigration court granting him protected status in 2019 because of potential gang targeting.
He returned to the U.S. in June and was detained in Tennessee on human smuggling charges linked to a 2022 traffic stop. The investigation reportedly began while he was incarcerated in El Salvador, raising concerns about the probe's conduct. Abrego Garcia has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
In Maryland, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, who is overseeing Abrego Garcia's civil lawsuit challenging the legality of his deportation, has mandated that federal officials provide his lawyers with a 72-hour notice before initiating deportation proceedings. This notice period is intended to allow his legal team the opportunity to contest the deportation.
The case of Abrego Garcia gained national attention when the Trump administration initially resisted his return from El Salvador, despite acknowledging in court that his deportation was an "administrative error." His detention in El Salvador prompted visits from U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.
The release of Abrego Garcia on Friday has been met with disapproval from Trump administration officials. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressed strong criticism, labeling Abrego Garcia as a criminal and an immigration law violator.
She described him as a "monster" released by "activist liberal judges" and vowed continued efforts to ensure he faces justice and is removed from the United States. "We will not stop fighting till this Salvadoran man faces justice and is OUT of our country," Noem stated on X.
This case underscores the ongoing debate over immigration policies and the balance between national security and humanitarian considerations. The involvement of high-profile figures and the international dimension of potential deportation to Uganda highlight the complexities surrounding immigration enforcement and legal proceedings in the United States.
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