Garcia was previously deported to his native El Salvador in March. He has since been returned to the US where he was kept in a jail in Tennessee to face federal charges of human smuggling.
Federal prosecutors told a Maryland judge Thursday that immigration authorities intend to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a country other than his native El Salvador once he is released from a Tennessee jail, but will try him on human smuggling charges in Tennessee first.
Prosecutors added that the removal is not immediate and they will follow all court orders, reports the Associated Press. "This defendant has been charged with horrific crimes, including trafficking children, and will not walk free in our country again,” DOJ spokesperson Chad Gilmartin said.
Defense attorneys previously asked the court to order Abrego Garcia's return to Maryland, a move aimed at blocking what they called likely efforts by immigration officials to quickly deport him.
Garcia was previously deported to his native El Salvador in March. He has since been returned to the US, where he was kept in a jail in Tennessee to face federal charges of human smuggling.
Justice Department attorney Jonathan Guynn confirmed that Abrego Garcia's removal would be to a “third country,” though he added that there are “no imminent plans” for deportation and that the Trump admin will comply with all court orders.
Guynn made the statement during a call with Abrego Garcia’s defense attorneys and US District Judge Paula Xinis in Greenbelt, Maryland.
The call followed an emergency request from the defense team asking the court to order the federal government to transport Abrego Garcia to Maryland upon his release from custody in Tennessee—a move aimed at preventing his deportation before he can stand trial.
“We have concerns that the government may try to remove Mr. Abrego Garcia quickly over the weekend, something like that,” said defense attorney Jonathan Cooper during the call.
US Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes ruled that Abrego Garcia has a right to be released while awaiting trial. She said on Wednesday that he would be kept in custody for at least a few more days due to concerns that he would be swiftly deported.
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