Kilmar Abrego, the migrant whose wrongful deportation to El Salvador made him a symbol of U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration policies, was released from criminal custody in Tennessee on Friday, reporters witnessed.
Video posted hours later on X by WJLA television showed him arriving at a family home in Maryland where relatives greeted him with hugs and chants of "Yes we could!" in Spanish.
Abrego, 30, was deported to his native El Salvador in March despite a 2019 immigration court ruling that he not be sent there due to a risk of persecution by gangs. He was flown back to the U.S. in June to face criminal charges of transporting migrants living illegally in the country.
His case drew attention as the Trump administration for months took no apparent steps to bring him back despite an official's acknowledgement that his deportation had been an "administrative error" and a federal judge's order to facilitate his return.
Abrego may not be free for long. Once in Maryland, immigration officials could take him into custody and initiate deportation proceedings.
Reuters
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