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

"Since Abrego Garcia's release after erroneous imprisonment in El Salvador, he has been taken back into custody, again without legal justification," Judge Paula Xinis wrote in her ruling.

The situation originates in a erroneous deportation to El Salvador earlier this year, which US authorities later acknowledged was an mistake. After his repatriation to the United States to answer alien smuggling allegations, he was detained in immigration custody.

In her decision, the judge pointed out that the authorities lacks a valid deportation order, which prevents them from removing Mr. Abrego Garcia "at this juncture."

Context of the Case

The court proceedings involve conflicting claims. Whereas the former administration argues that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 criminal organization, he vehemently denies this claim.

He has also entered a not guilty plea to the conspiracy charges, which are part of a separate criminal case in Tennessee.

Terms of Release

The court, who was hearing his challenge to deportation in a Maryland district court, determined that he must now comply with the conditions of his bond from jail in Tennessee. This order effectively transfers his monitoring to the jurisdiction handling his criminal case.

This ruling marks a notable turn in a complicated legal case involving claims of mistaken imprisonment and disputed criminal affiliations.