Alleged MS-13 gangbanger Kilmar Abrego Garcia was back on the streets Friday as he vowed to “fight” the Trump administration. A federal judge ordered Abrego Garcia’s release from ICE custody at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, arguing that the federal government had no legal basis for holding him. Abrego Garcia was appearing for a routine check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Baltimore when he delivered remarks before a crowd of activists. “I stand here today with my head held up high. And I will continue to fight and stand firm against all of the injustices this government has done upon me,” Abrego Garcia said. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called the judge’s decision “naked judicial activism,” pledging “to fight this tooth and nail in the courts.” Abrego Garcia’s legal team condemned the Trump administration, saying they need to face “consequences.” “This is not about one man or one family or one community — this isn’t even about the issue of immigration. This is about power over law,” Abrego Garcia’s attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg said. “The Trump administration has always chosen to use Mr. Abrego Garcia to try to stand for the principle that they get to do whatever they want to whomever they want whenever they want — with no consequences. There need to be consequences for the government, and that’s what we as his legal team are fighting for,” he added. Christmas Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships The Trump administration deported Abrego Garcia, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2011, to his home country of El Salvador in March due to an “administrative error.” He was brought back to the U.S. in June on human smuggling charges stemming from a 2022 Tennessee traffic stop. Alleged MS-13 gangbanger Kilmar Abrego Garcia is now back on the streets, pledging to “fight” the Trump admin. pic.twitter.com/Eztkwi4lnM — Jennie Taer (@JennieSTaer) December 12, 2025 Abrego Garcia was seen behind the wheel with eight other passengers in tow in body camera footage taken during the incident. Although the group had been on the road for days as they made their way from Texas to Maryland, they had no luggage in the car. A responding officer noted that he suspected “a human trafficking incident,” but they ultimately let Abrego Garcia go with a citation for driving with an expired license.