Federal Judge Denies Trump’s Attempt to Dismiss Abrego Garcia Lawsuit

A federal judge in Maryland recently rejected an effort by the Trump administration to dismiss a lawsuit concerning Kilmer Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported. Garcia returned to the United States last month after facing deportation.

US District Judge Paula Xinis issued a brief order on Wednesday, without detailing her reasons, for rejecting two motions from the government aimed at dismissing the civil case.

The US Department of Justice argued that jurisdiction was lacking while Garcia was in custody in El Salvador. They claimed that federal authorities wouldn’t be able to compel foreign governments to act in such situations. Interestingly, the Justice Department appeared to argue both for his return and against his case simultaneously.

A hearing is scheduled for Thursday in Greenbelt, Maryland, to discuss the matter further.

In March, government lawyers acknowledged that Abrego Garcia, who had entered the country illegally but was protected from deportation, was mistakenly transferred to a prison in El Salvador. He had been living with his family in Maryland for years before this incident.

Despite claims from the administration about being unable to return Garcia to the US, they alleged that he was associated with a gang involved in trafficking and should not be allowed to stay in the country. Garcia, who is currently in a Tennessee prison, has denied these accusations.

A sealed complaint was filed against him in May, and US authorities transported him to Tennessee from El Salvador the following month, where his case is still active.