The New York defense attorney representing Kilmar Abrego Garcia in the federal human smuggling case against him out of Tennessee confirmed on Friday that the alleged human smuggler was released from U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) custody following his previous request to remain incarcerated for an additional 30 days, citing concerns over possibly being deported again.
Those concerns were mollified last month by an order issued by U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis in Maryland, who prohibited U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from arresting Abrego Garcia immediately following his release from DOJ custody, and instead must give the illegal immigrant and his attorneys a 48-hour notice should they move forward with an immigration case against him. Xinis also required ICE to detain Abrego Garcia in Maryland, should he be arrested again by immigration authorities.
New York-based attorney Sean Hecker stated to Fox 17 that Abrego Garcia was released and “en route to his family in Maryland,” on Friday, before claiming his client was “unlawfully arrested and deported” by the Trump administration.
Hecker told the outlet, “He is grateful that his access to American courts has provided meaningful due process,” and accused the Trump administration of engaging in a “continuing assault on the rule of law.”
The terms of Abrego Garcia’s release were set by U.S. Magistrate Barbara Holmes last month, though the conditions have not been clearly expressed by the court in a written order. It was reported that Abrego Garcia must undergo anger management counseling, wear a U.S. Marshals Service ankle monitor, and report to pretrial services in Maryland within 48 hours of his release.
Hecker did not immediately respond to a comment request from The Tennessee Star.Â
Amy Jeffress, who recently joined Hecker’s firm, Hecker & Fink, was recently retained by former President Joe Biden as his personal attorney. When the firm was still associated with its former partner, Roberta Kaplan, it received millions from LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman to support the civil lawsuits brought against President Donald Trump by former advice columnist E. Jean Carroll.
The Star was the first outlet to report that Abrego Garcia was stopped by Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) in November 2022, when a U.S. Department of Homeland Security document shows troopers suspected human trafficking, but THP told The Star that troopers were instructed to release Abrego Garcia and his nine passengers.
After being returned to Tennessee after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi unsealed the indictment accusing Abrego Garcia of spending nearly a decade embroiled in a human smuggling ring, he pleaded not guilty last month, and his trial is currently scheduled for January 2026.
His attorneys have asked U.S. District Court Judge Waverly Crenshaw to toss the human smuggling case for alleged vindictive prosecution by the Trump administration.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Kilmar Abrego Garcia” by Murray Osorio PLLC.
What is he still doing in the United States and why are powerful Demonrats via their judicial puppets protecting and keeping him here?
I’m so sick and tired of seeing his criminal mug in the news. Either throw his a$$ in jail or get him the hell out of our country. he’s a criminal POS.