Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s lawyers ask judge to delay release from jail over deportation fears

By BEN FINLEY Associated Press Lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia have demanded a federal judge in Tennessee to delay releasing him from jail in order to prevent the Trump administration from trying to swiftly deport the Maryland construction worker U S District Judge Waverly Crenshaw Jr in Nashville is expected to rule soon on whether to free Abrego Garcia while he awaits trial on human smuggling charges If the Salvadoran national is distributed U S personnel have explained he would be without delay detained by immigration agents and targeted for deportation Brianna O Keefe yells as she holds a portrait of Kilmar Obrego Garcia during a protest outside the federal courthouse Wednesday June in Nashville Tenn AP Photo George Walker IV Abrego Garcia became a prominent face in the debate over President Donald Trump s immigration policies when he was wrongfully deported to his native El Salvador in March That expulsion violated a U S immigration judge s order in that shields Abrego Garcia from deportation to El Salvador because he likely faces threats of gang violence there The administration claimed that Abrego Garcia was in the MS- gang although he wasn t charged and has repeatedly denied the allegation Facing mounting pressure and a U S Supreme Court order the Trump administration returned Abrego Garcia to the U S last month to face the smuggling charges which his attorneys have called preposterous The smuggling matter stems from a traffic stop for speeding during Abrego Garcia was driving a automobile with nine passengers Police in Tennessee suspected human smuggling but he was allowed to drive on U S authorities have disclosed they ll try to deport Abrego Garcia to a country that isn t El Salvador such as Mexico or South Sudan before his trial starts in January because they allege he s a danger to the society U S Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes in Nashville ruled a month ago that Abrego Garcia is eligible for release after she determined he s not a flight exposure or a danger Abrego Garcia s attorneys solicited her to keep him in jail over deportation concerns Holmes ruling is being reviewed by Crenshaw after federal prosecutors filed a motion to revoke her release order Related Articles More Americans shift money from checking and savings to accounts with stake income evaluation says Microsoft releases urgent fix for Sharepoint vulnerability being used in global cyberattacks Ford recalls more than Bronco Sport Escape vehicles due to fuel injector issue Wall Street drifts around its records ahead of a big week for profit reports Harvard is hoping court rules Trump administration s B research cuts were illegal Abrego Garcia s attorneys initially argued for his release but changed their strategy because of the regime s plans to deport him if he is set free With Crenshaw s decision imminent Abrego Garcia s attorneys filed a motion Sunday night for a -day stay of any release order The request would allow Abrego Garcia to evaluate his options and determine whether additional relief is necessary Earlier this month U S functionaries detailed their plans to try to expel Abrego Garcia in a federal court in Maryland That s where Abrego Garcia s American wife Jennifer Vasquez Sura is suing the Trump administration over his wrongful deportation in March and is trying to prevent another expulsion U S agents have argued that Abrego Garcia can be deported because he came to the U S illegally around and because a U S immigration judge deemed him eligible for expulsion in although not to his native El Salvador Following the immigration judge s decision in Abrego Garcia was distributed under federal supervision received a federal work permit and checked in with ICE each year his attorneys have announced But U S functionaries in recent times stated in court documents that they revoked Abrego Garcia s supervised release Abrego Garcia s attorneys in Maryland have inquired U S District Judge Paula Xinis to order the federal executive to send Abrego Garcia to that state to await his trial a bid that seeks to prevent deportation His lawyers also required Xinis to issue at least a -hour hold that would prevent immediate deportation if he s disclosed from jail in Tennessee Xinis has not ruled on either request