(Just The News)—A federal judge in Tennessee on Monday delayed Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s release from jail again amid concern from his legal team that he would be deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials if released pending his trial.
Abrego Garcia emerged as a focal point of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, after he was deported to El Salvador despite a court order that allowed him to remain in the country for his own safety. He was returned earlier this month.
The migrant is currently awaiting trial on allegations of human trafficking. Federal prosecutors allege Abrego Garcia transported hundreds of illegal migrants over many years, but he has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Abrego Garcia’s attorneys asked the judge to delay their client’s release because of alleged “contradictory statements” from the Trump administration on his future if released from custody. The administration reportedly claimed it intended to deport the migrant to a third party country, meaning one that was not the U.S. or El Salvador, but did not disclose a timeline.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes granted the request in a short order Monday, ruling that he will remain in the custody of U.S. Marshals to allow for a July 16 hearing, according to CBS News.
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