If what I'm about to tell you comes as a shock, my apologies. It shouldn't be shocking that Maryland District Court Judge Paula Xinis once again ruled in favor of "Maryland Dad" Kilmar Abrego Garcia in his challenge to the Trump administration's attempts to effect his removal from the country, but perhaps you were unaware that he was still here. He is, though, and Thursday morning, Xinis once again rode to his defense, ordering his immediate release from ICE custody.
A federal judge has ordered the immediate release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from immigration detention.
U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis said in her order Thursday that "since Abrego Garcia's wrongful detention in El Salvador, he has been re-detained, again without lawful authority."
Xinis said that the absence of a removal order prevents the government from removing Abrego Garcia from the United States.
Judge Puts the Kibosh on Kilmar Abrego Garcia's Bid to Reopen His Immigration Case
The criminal case against Abrego Garcia for human smuggling remains pending in the Middle District of Tennessee, but in the meantime, the administration has been attempting to secure his removal despite the roadblocks the courts seem hellbent on chucking into their path.
After being released into the custody of his brother in Maryland pending trial, he was again detained by immigration authorities and is currently being held in a detention facility in Pennsylvania.
Last month, the government -- seeking to deport Abrego Garcia to the West African nation of Liberia -- asked Xinis to dissolve a ban on his removal to that country, saying it had received assurances from the Liberian government that he would not be persecuted or tortured should he be deported there.
In her order Thursday, Judge Xinis directed the government to notify Abrego Garcia of the exact time and location of his release and to notify the court no later than 5 p.m. ET today.
If you're wondering how we got here, Xinis' Thursday order takes great pains to lay out the rather tortured history of Abrego Garcia's saga (leaving no doubt where her sympathies lie).
Presumably, the administration will appeal Xinis' decision and seek a stay. We'll continue to follow the story and provide updates as warranted.
Editor's Note: Radical leftist judges are doing everything they can to hamstring President Trump's agenda to make America great again.
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