A judge has ordered the immediate release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported in March and brought back to the US to face criminal charges, from immigration custody.

"Since Abrego Garcia's return from wrongful detention in El Salvador, he has been re-detained, again without lawful authority," the judge wrote in his order.

Mr Abrego Garcia was sent to a prison in El Salvador earlier this year, which the government later admitted was in error. He was returned to the US to face human smuggling charges and has been held since then.

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The Trump administration contends Mr Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang, which he denies.