Additional Coverage:
- Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s lawyers and government ask judge for 30-day pause if he’s ordered to be released (nbcnews.com)
Nashville, TN — The fate of Kilmar Abrego Garcia hangs in the balance as a federal judge weighs whether to release him pending trial. Garcia, the Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March, is currently in custody in Nashville facing human smuggling charges.
Both the prosecution and Garcia’s defense team have jointly requested a 30-day pause on any release order, should Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw deny the government’s motion to revoke a previous release order.
This joint request comes ahead of Judge Crenshaw’s anticipated ruling this week. The 30-day stay would allow Garcia time to consider his legal options regarding potential deportation proceedings should he be released. The government has indicated it does not object to the stay.
Garcia’s case has drawn national attention. His erroneous deportation to a Salvadoran prison sparked controversy amidst ongoing debates surrounding immigration policy.
He was returned to the U.S. last month after extensive legal efforts, only to be immediately charged with two felony counts of human smuggling. He has pleaded not guilty.
This latest development adds another layer of complexity to an already tangled legal saga.