Judge Orders Immediate Release Of Kilmar Abrego García

A federal judge in Maryland today ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego García from ICE custody “immediately.”

The El Salvadoran was mistakenly deported this year before being returned to the United States where he’s basically been used as a pawn by the Trump administration.

From the Washington Post (gift link):

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis said she ordered officials to set him free in part to ensure that he has a fair immigration process after the Justice Department and an ICE witness last month said officers had no option but to deport him to the African nation of Liberia because Costa Rica was no longer willing to offer Abrego refuge.

The judge cited reporting by The Washington Post and ABC that found that Costa Rica had “never wavered” in its commitment to accept Abrego.

Xinis was the first federal judge to order the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego’s return to the United States after immigration officers illegally deported him to a notorious prison in his native El Salvador.

“Since Abrego Garcia’s return from wrongful detention in El Salvador, he has been re-detained, again without lawful authority,” Xinis wrote. “For this reason, the Court will grant Abrego Garcia’s Petition for immediate release from ICE custody.”

The Post has reported that Costa Rica’s security minister said nothing had changed since the nation’s August letter promising to accept Abrego.

Judge Xinis said the administration not only misrepresented Costa Rica’s willingness to accept Abrego Garcia but also failed to produce a “final order of removal” necessary to deport him at all. Under those circumstances, she ruled his detention is illegal.

Well, well well…

All that drama about Kilmar Abrego Garcia being a gang member, and the trump regime failed to produce any evidence in court, so a judge has ordered his release from immigration custody.

Let that man go home to his family already. pic.twitter.com/prlHo7CldU

— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) December 11, 2025