Judge skeptical of DOJ effort to keep Abrego Garcia in jail before trial

Published July 16, 2025 7:56pm ET



A federal judge in Tennessee appeared unconvinced on Wednesday by the Department of Justiceʼs push to keep Kilmar Abrego Garcia in jail ahead of trial, but stopped short of issuing a ruling, delaying a decision that could determine whether the Salvadoran national is once again removed from the United States.

U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw said he was “having a hard time” with the government’s claim that no set of release conditions could protect the community, signaling he may be leaning toward granting bond. Crenshaw added that no decision would come until next week, extending the legal uncertainty surrounding a case that has drawn national attention.

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