Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s legal battle against the Trump administration continues as his attorneys strive to pursue sanctions against officials for defying court orders and wrongfully deporting him to El Salvador earlier this year. Following his return to the US to face federal criminal charges in Tennessee, the Justice Department urged US District Judge Paula Xinis to halt the civil case, citing its mootness due to Abrego Garcia’s return. However, just prior to his return, Judge Xinis permitted Abrego Garcia’s attorneys to proceed with seeking sanctions, setting a deadline for their formal request.

The Maryland civil case, initiated by Abrego Garcia and his family in March, aims to secure his repatriation to the US. Abrego Garcia’s legal team criticized the government’s actions as contemptuous and defiant toward the judiciary, emphasizing the deliberate delay tactics employed to avoid contempt sanctions. They disputed the government’s claim of compliance with facilitating Abrego Garcia’s return, highlighting discrepancies in his relocation to Tennessee for criminal charges instead of Maryland.

The federal charges against Abrego Garcia, including conspiracy and unlawful transportation of illegal aliens for financial gain, were unsealed upon his return. Despite his repatriation, the legal battle persists to address his status post-criminal case and the looming threat of removal. The government’s deportation of Abrego Garcia, a father of three, in violation of a 2019 court order, underscores the ongoing struggle for justice amid concerns of gang violence in El Salvador. Abrego Garcia’s case symbolizes a complex legal saga intertwining civil rights, immigration, and governmental accountability.