Overview

• U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara D. Holmes ordered his release by Friday afternoon with direct travel to Maryland and placement in his brother’s custody, with reporting to pretrial services by Aug. 25.
• Two federal judges in Tennessee rejected prosecutors’ detention bids, finding the government did not show he is a flight risk or danger as he awaits a January 2026 trial.
• U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis barred immediate ICE custody upon his release in Tennessee and required restoration to ICE’s Baltimore supervision with at least 72 hours’ notice before any removal move.
• ICE and Justice Department officials have signaled they may seek to deport him to a third country, an option an ICE official testified could include Mexico or South Sudan.
• Abrego Garcia has pleaded not guilty to smuggling charges stemming from a 2022 traffic stop, and his lawyers have moved to dismiss the case as a vindictive and selective prosecution.