Federal Judge Bars ICE from Redetaining Abrego Garcia

A federal judge in Maryland barred U.S. immigration authorities on Friday from redetaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia during a scheduled check-in at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Baltimore, preserving his freedom just hours after his release from custody the previous day.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis issued the temporary restraining order early Friday in response to an emergency request from Abrego Garcia's lawyers, who warned that officials might immediately take him back into custody. Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who has lived in Maryland for years with his U.S. citizen wife and child, completed the appointment and walked out to cheers from supporters gathered outside. He addressed the crowd through a translator, saying, "I stand before you as a free man, and I want you to remember me this way, with my head held up high." He added, "I will continue to fight and stand firm against all the injustices this government has done upon me," and expressed belief that "this is a country of laws" where the injustice would end.

The order prevents ICE from detaining him until a full hearing on the restraining order motion, with Xinis writing that Abrego Garcia...