Overview

• Ábrego García was taken into ICE custody after appearing in Baltimore and is now held in Virginia as DHS said he was being processed for removal to Uganda, with ICE issuing a 72‑hour notice under a Maryland ruling.
• U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis temporarily blocked the deportation while she evaluates legal challenges, and government counsel acknowledged in court that he cannot be removed under the order.
• Defense lawyers filed a habeas petition and argue he fears persecution and torture in Uganda, warning he could be sent on to El Salvador, and they are seeking a reasonable‑fear interview and judicial review.
• Plea talks included a proposal to relocate him to Costa Rica with legal status, which his attorneys say he declined before ICE signaled Uganda; prosecutors dispute retaliation claims and the DOJ calls him a public‑safety risk.
• The case follows his erroneous March deportation to El Salvador, a court‑ordered return in June, federal human‑trafficking charges tied to a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee, and public protests supporting him in Baltimore.