A federal judge in Tennessee recently rejected a request from the Justice Department to keep Kilmar Abrego Garcia locked up before his federal criminal trial, stressing the basic importance of fair treatment under the law. However, this court decision, while important, probably won’t lead to his immediate release because U.S. immigration officials plan to keep holding him.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes, in her detailed 51-page ruling, admitted that her decision might seem pointless since the government still intends to detain Abrego Garcia under immigration laws, which could result in his deportation. Still, she made it clear that the defendant must be given his constitutional right to due process.
