The country’s most famous “Maryland Man” is allowed to stay free in Maryland for the foreseeable future, thanks to a federal judge’s ruling.
U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, appointed in 2016 by then-President Barack Obama, declared Tuesday that the government had presented no viable plan for deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia, according to theAssociated Press.
Unless a higher court intervenes, the Salvadoran national can’t be held while he faces an indictment charging him with human smuggling.
BREAKING: The U.S. can't take Kilmar Abrego Garcia back into immigration custody because it doesn't have a viable plan to deport him, judge says.https://t.co/QGxwBZvJ3R
— The Associated Press (@AP)February 17, 2026
The ruling is the latest twist in the Abrego Garcia case, which has seen the illegal immigrant arrested, deported to his native country, visited in prison by a high-profile Democratic lawmaker, returned to the United States, freed, detained, and then freed again.
According toCNN, Abrego Garcia is now living with a brother in Maryland, under house arrest that keeps him inside unless going to work or attending court hearings, religious services, or medical appointments.
The Trump administration has the option of appealing Xinis’ ruling, CNN reported.
The administration has explored sending Abrego Garcia to countries in Africa, includingUgandaandEswatini, but none have panned out, the Associated Press reported. Meanwhile, Costa Rica, which has agreed to accept Abrego Garcia, has been “purposely — and for no reason — ignored,” Xinix wrote in her ruling, according to the Associated Press.
The Department of Homeland Security had not yet responded to the Xinis ruling issued Tuesday.
Source: VidNews » Feed
