Kilmar Abrego, the migrant whose wrongful deportation to El Salvador made him a symbol of U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration policies, reacts as he appears for a check-in at the ICE Baltimore field office, a day after his release from criminal custody in Pennsylvania, in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S., December 12, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
(Washington, DC) – A federal judge has dismissed charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, handing him a major legal win in a case that became a national flashpoint over immigration enforcement.
The ruling throws out the criminal case against Abrego Garcia after the court found serious problems with how the prosecution moved forward. The judge said the government’s case raised concerns about whether charges were brought after Abrego Garcia challenged his deportation.
Abrego Garcia had previously been removed to El Salvador despite a court order blocking his deportation there, setting off a legal fight that drew national attention.
The Justice Department may still appeal the ruling, and Abrego Garcia’s immigration status could remain the subject of further government action.
For now, the criminal case against him has been dismissed.
