The Trump administration said a Salvadoran man who was mistakenly deported and then brought back to the US on criminal charges will “never go free” on American soil, even though a judge ordered his release.

Kilmar Ábrego García was deported in March as part of an immigration crackdown. Government officials said he was removed in error, but they were unable to bring him back.

Earlier this month, he was sent to the state of Tennessee, where the justice department charged him with human smuggling.

The judge overseeing the case said on Sunday that Mr Ábrego García should be released from custody while he awaits trial. But she noted immigration officials would still have the power to detain him.

    • dhork@lemmy.world
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      18 hours ago

      The charges are bullshit, though

      The charges, which date back to 2016, allege he transported undocumented individuals between Texas and Maryland and other states more than 100 times.

      They are basically accusing him on going on road trips with brown people

      • peoplebeproblems@midwest.social
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        18 hours ago

        I had no misconceptions that the charges were bullshit, but it’s pretty damn impressive that they went to those lengths to paint him as a criminal.

        I mean hell, interstate bus companies are probably all guilty of this too.

        • Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works
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          18 hours ago

          It’s vindictiveness, plain and simple. His existence is an embarrassment to them. They absolutely have to get the last word in this fight, because their egos are too fragile for anything else.

          • Zak@lemmy.world
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            17 hours ago

            I don’t think vindictiveness is a major factor. This is about power.

            Trump is trying to grab as much power to deport people as he can. He will fight every challenge to it until the legal options are exhausted. He will attack the legitimacy of the courts when he loses. He cares about the precedent and saving face with his base, not Garcia himself.

    • Boddhisatva@lemmy.world
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      18 hours ago

      I missed the human smuggling part.

      That’s okay. It’s complete bullshit. DeSantis and Abbott have both done the same thing Kilmar Ábrego García is accused of and they haven’t been charged.