Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was reunited with his family just days ago after months of wrongful deportation, is once again at the center of a fierce immigration battle. Taken into ICE custody Monday following a check-in, he faced the Trump administration’s plan to deport him to Uganda. But a federal judge has temporarily blocked the move, citing serious concerns over his rights and safety.
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ICE Detains Abrego Again
On Monday, Kilmar Abrego Garcia appeared for a scheduled immigration check-in in Baltimore, a standard procedure required as part of his release conditions. Instead of a routine update, ICE officers took him into custody. His lawyers, however, anticipated the move after federal authorities announced plans over the weekend to deport him to Uganda. “There was no need to take him into ICE detention… the only reason they took him into detention was to punish him,” said his attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg.
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Mistaken Deportation in March
Abrego’s case drew attention earlier this year when he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March despite a 2019 court order blocking his removal. After legal challenges and a direct order from a judge, he was brought back to the United States on June 6. He was then indicted in Tennessee for allegedly transporting undocumented immigrants, charges he has denied. His lawyers argue the prosecution is “vindictive” and part of broader efforts to remove him.
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Judge Halts Uganda Deportation
On Monday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis issued a temporary order blocking Abrego’s deportation to Uganda. She said there are “several grounds” to halt the transfer, including Uganda’s lack of assurances that Abrego would be given refugee protections or shielded from being deported again to El Salvador. The judge scheduled an evidentiary hearing to review the case further.
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Family and Community Support
Before his detention, Abrego addressed reporters surrounded by relatives, supporters, and faith leaders. “My name is Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and I want you to remember this… I was able to be reunited with my family,” he said in Spanish. Calling his reunion “a miracle,” he thanked his community and urged them to “never stop praying and continue to fight in my name.” His supporters say his detention is a cruel continuation of months of government mishandling.
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Plea Deal Controversy
The Trump administration recently offered Abrego a plea deal in exchange for deportation to Costa Rica, where the government has agreed to grant him refugee status. Sandoval-Moshenberg said Costa Rica would be a “reasonable option,” but only if guarantees were in place. He stressed that Abrego will not accept the Tennessee charges: “He will not accept charges of which he’s not guilty.” Abrego’s team warns that Uganda or any third country without protections would only serve as a “layover back to El Salvador.”
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Gang Allegations and Denials
Officials have repeatedly linked Abrego to the MS-13 gang, accusations his attorneys firmly reject. They argue he came to the U.S. at age 16 to escape gang violence in El Salvador. His lawyers contend the government’s attempts to associate him with MS-13 are part of a broader campaign to justify his removal. Abrego has pleaded not guilty to all charges and insists his case is about government overreach and constitutional rights.
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Wider Implications for Immigrants
Sandoval-Moshenberg revealed that Abrego’s ordeal is not isolated. “We thought that Abrego Garcia was sort of a one-of-a-kind case,” he said. “But it turned out really to just be the tip of the spear.” According to him, more than a dozen immigration lawyers have reported similar mistaken deportations of their clients. Advocates warn that third-country removals, a relatively new practice, could put many more immigrants at risk of being sent to nations offering no real protection.