Overview

• U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes delayed Garcia’s release by 30 days to allow his legal team to pursue further protective orders.
• Maryland District Judge Paula Xinis ordered ICE to wait at least 72 hours and return Garcia to Baltimore field office supervision before any removal steps.
• The Supreme Court found Garcia’s March deportation to El Salvador unlawful for violating a 2019 withholding order and his constitutional due process rights.
• Garcia faces federal human smuggling charges in Tennessee, has pleaded not guilty, and remains in U.S. Marshals custody pending his January 2026 trial.
• Justice Department officials plan to appeal the court rulings and proceed with deportation to a third country such as Mexico or South Sudan.