Nashville Court Delays Deportation Hearing for Kilmar Abrego Garcia

NASHVILLE – Kilmar Abrego Garcia remains in prison for now at his lawyer’s request. This decision stems from inconsistencies regarding his risk of immediate deportation.

A ruling by US Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes, issued on Monday, indicates that Abrego will stay in custody until the hearing scheduled for July 16th in Nashville. The order also allows him to meet with his lawyer privately, away from others in detention or awaiting proceedings.

Abrego, an apprentice sheet metal worker residing in Maryland, faced deportation to El Salvador in March after a traffic stop as part of intensified immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.

Federal prosecutors are contesting Abrego’s possible release.

Government attorneys later acknowledged that the deportation of Abrego, who entered the U.S. without authorization about ten years ago, was a mistake. A prior immigration judge’s ruling from 2019 prevents his return to El Salvador due to concerns over gang violence. The Supreme Court ordered the government to facilitate his return.

In a sealed indictment from June 6th, Abrego is accused of serving as a paid driver for illegal border crossings over several years.

Abrego, now 29, has pleaded not guilty to these allegations.

Last week, his attorney highlighted “contradictory statements” from government officials regarding potential deportation in a call for delayed proceedings against federal opposition to his release.

Abrego Garcia’s attorney is hopeful the Trump administration will face consequences for violating court orders.

Both the federal prosecution and Abrego’s defense have conceded that should he be released pretrial, he would likely be taken into immediate custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, during a separate hearing in Maryland last week, government lawyers indicated they hope ICE will start the process of relocating Abrego to “third countries,” though they did not specify a timeline.

A White House spokesperson later denied that Abrego was facing imminent deportation.

In discussing their client’s current detention, Abrego’s lawyers pointed out the “irony” of having to request a continued stay. They remarked, “In an ideal situation, he wouldn’t need to extend his imprisonment further. Yet the government has assured the public that Abrego is committed to facing ‘American justice.’