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Federal judge rules Kilmar Abrego Garcia can’t be re-detained by immigration authorities
A federal judge ruled ICE cannot re-detain Kilmar Abrego Garcia after the 90-day limit expired and no viable deportation plan exists, citing failed attempts to deport him to multiple countries.
- On Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement from re-detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia due to a lack of a workable deportation plan within the detention period.
- Kilmar Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador last year despite facing danger there and was returned to the U.S. federal court before his Dec. 12, 2025 release.
- The judge criticized the government for ignoring Costa Rica's offer and pursuing removal to Uganda, Eswatini, Ghana, and Liberia, with officials feigning ignorance about their plan.
- The court may convert the temporary injunction on rearrest into a permanent order or dissolve it, and the government has until Friday to clarify its plans for Petitioner Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia.
- As a result, the case has become central to immigration debates, constraining ICE's detention power without realistic removal plans and spotlighting the Tennessee criminal case, which may be vindictive.
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WBALJudge rules Kilmar Abrego Garcia can’t be re-detained by immigration authorities
A federal judge has ruled that Immigration and Customs Enforcement cannot re-detain Kilmar Abrego Garcia because a 90-day detention period has expired and the government has no viable plan for deporting him.
·Washington, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources96
Leaning Left38Leaning Right7Center43Last UpdatedBias Distribution49% Center
Bias Distribution
- 49% of the sources are Center
49% Center
L 43%
C 49%
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