Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly deported in March before being brought back to the U.S., has been released from criminal custody in Tennessee and is on his way to Maryland, an attorney for Abrego Garcia told ABC News.The Salvadoran native has been in criminal custody since the federal government brought him back to the U.S.in June to face human smuggling charges.Once he is is released, immigration authorities will not be allowed to detain Abrego Garcia due to a ruling from a federal judge who last month ordered the government to return him to Maryland and blocked the administration from deporting him upon his release in Tennessee.MORE: Costa Rica willing to accept Abrego Garcia upon conclusion of any criminal sentence he may serve in US: SourcesAbrego Garcia's lawyers said this week that they hired a private security company to bring him to Maryland.An attorney representing Kilmar Abrego Garcia told ABC News Friday that while his client's release brings some relief, he is "far from safe.""For the first time since March, our client Kilmar Abrego Garcia is reunited with his loving family," said Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg.
"While his release brings some relief, we all know that he is far from safe.ICE detention or deportation to an unknown third country still threaten to tear his family apart.
A measure of justice has been done, but the government must stop pursuing actions that would once again separate this family."Abrego Garcia must remain in the custody of his brother in Maryland, according to his release order.Kilmar Abrego Garcia, leaves the Putnam County Jail, Aug.22, 2025, in Cookeville, Tenn.Brett Carlsen/APU.S.
Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes said Abrego Garcia shall travel directly to Maryland and must report by phone to Pretrial Services for the District of Maryland by no later than 10:00 a.m.Monday.Holmes said that Abrego Garcia is reminded that if "he is taken into ICE custody, he is required by the conditions of his release to consent to being t...