A protester holds a photo of Kilmar Abrego Garcia as demonstrators gather to protest against the deportation of immigrants to El Salvador outside the Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the United Nations on April 24 in New York City. Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

A federal judge on Sunday said Kilmar Abrego Garcia should be released ahead of trial — though that does not mean he will go free.

The big picture: Abrego Garcia, whose erroneous deportation to El Salvador became a major standoff amid the administration's aggressive immigration crackdown, was recently returned to the U.S., where he now faces smuggling charges.

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