Judge Halts Order Demanding Details on Efforts to Return Abrego Garcia to US

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis had ordered the government to address discovery requests.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran illegal immigrant who was living in Maryland and was deported to El Salvador, in a handout image on April 9, 2025. Abrego Garcia's Family/File Photo/Handout via Reuters

The federal judge overseeing the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant deported to his home country despite a court order, has paused her order demanding details on the U.S. government’s efforts to facilitate his return to the United States.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis on April 23 paused her order for one week. She did not detail the rationale behind the pause but wrote that it was entered “with the agreement of the parties.”