Stuck in the System: A Man's Fight Against Deportation

Kilmar Abrego Garcia remains behind bars, caught in a legal tug-of-war. His lawyers worry he might be sent out of the country before his trial even starts. They don't trust the government's promises, pointing out mixed messages from the Trump administration. The Justice Department insists they will try Abrego Garcia for human smuggling first. But his lawyers argue that the government's shifting statements make it hard to believe them. They fear he could be deported to a third country, not his home of El Salvador, and there's no clear timeline for this. Abrego Garcia's story gained attention earlier this year. He was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March, despite a 2019 court order protecting him. The government brought him back after public pressure and a Supreme Court ruling. Now, his lawyers accuse the administration of trying to convict him in the public eye rather than in a fair trial. A judge initially ruled that Abrego Garcia isn't a flight risk or danger to the community. She set conditions for his release, including living with his U. S. citizen brother. But she held off, concerned that ICE could still deport him. The acting U. S. Attorney admitted he can't control ICE's actions. Abrego Garcia's lawyers want to delay his release until a July hearing. They believe he deserves a fair chance to defend himself. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security has stated that Abrego Garcia will never be free on American soil. The smuggling charges against him come from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee, where he was driving with nine passengers and no luggage.