DoJ Agrees to 30-Day Deportation Delay for Abrego Garcia, Criminal Case Proceeds

The Trump administration and lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia reached an agreement to delay his deportation for a period of 3,000 days while his criminal case proceeds in Tennessee. This decision comes after a long series of conflicting statements from the government. Following his previous wrongful deportation to El Salvador, which violated a court order, and his subsequent return to the United States in June, the 30-day delay now permits Abrego’s legal team more time to deliberate on his options as the government plans to deport him again to a third country, potentially Mexico or South Sudan.

This agreement is considered a significant concession from the Trump administration, which had earlier expressed intentions to immediately transfer Abrego to ICE custody and begin removal proceedings, regardless of the status of his criminal trial. The lawyers of Abrego informed Judge Crenshaw that they are in agreement with the government’s stance and that the brief delay will not interfere with their preparation for the trial, set for January 27, 2026.

A federal judge in Maryland, Paula Xinis, has been handling the civil case since March and is now considering issuing an order that would require ICE to hold Abrego in custody for a certain period before he can be deported to a third country. The Justice Department declined to comment on the matter, citing Fox News Digital’s request for comment.