Annunciation shooting: Judge blocks ICE from detaining suspect Kilmar Abrego Garcia at check‑ins
U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis issued a temporary restraining order blocking ICE from detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia at a scheduled Baltimore check‑in, finding officials lacked legal authority to re‑detain him, had “affirmatively misled” the court and noting there is no final removal order; ICE released him from the Moshannon Valley Processing Center and he returned to Maryland. The action follows an immigration judge’s order for his release and comes amid ongoing litigation — including rescheduled federal hearings, a Tennessee judge’s admonition over public statements about Abrego Garcia and the administration’s efforts to keep him detained — with Pretrial Services and parties ordered to coordinate release conditions and file a joint status report.
📌 Key Facts
- An immigration judge ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia immediately released from ICE custody on Dec. 11, 2025; U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in Maryland then issued a temporary restraining order Dec. 12 barring ICE from detaining him at his scheduled check‑in, finding no final removal order in the record and saying federal officials had “affirmatively misled” the court.
- ICE released Abrego Garcia from the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania shortly before the court’s deadline; he returned to Maryland and was required to check in with immigration officials roughly 14 hours after his release, with supporters and Rep. Glenn Ivey present at the Baltimore check‑in.
- The Trump administration is challenging the release order and has moved to keep Abrego Garcia detained despite the immigration judge’s and Judge Xinis’s orders; the government has sought to lift Xinis’s injunction.
- DHS/ICE told courts it has been pursuing removal of Abrego Garcia to third countries — most recently proposing Liberia and earlier considering Uganda, Eswatini and Ghana — while an ICE official said Costa Rica is “not an option at the moment”; Xinis’s injunction currently prevents his immediate removal.
- Related federal criminal proceedings continue: hearings on Abrego Garcia’s motions to dismiss smuggling charges and to suppress evidence were rescheduled for Dec. 8–9, 2025 before Judge Waverly Crenshaw in Nashville, where Crenshaw has said there is “some evidence” of prosecutorial vindictiveness and raised concerns about public statements by senior Justice Department officials (including Deputy AG Todd Blanche).
- A DHS agent testified that the investigation into a 2022 Tennessee traffic stop involving Abrego Garcia did not begin until after the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the administration to work to return him to the U.S.; the 2022 stop involved nine passengers, a calm exchange in which Abrego Garcia was released with a warning, and officers’ discussion of suspected smuggling.
- Court-ordered procedural conditions accompanying the release include ICE notifying Abrego Garcia’s attorney before any release, Pretrial Services coordinating with defense counsel on release conditions, and a requirement that all parties file a joint status report by Dec. 18, 2025.
📊 Relevant Data
10 to 30 percent of mass shootings or active shooter events involved assault weapons.
The Effects of Bans on the Sale of Assault Weapons and High-Capacity Magazines — RAND Corporation
40 to 60 percent of mass shootings or active shooter events involved high-capacity magazines.
The Effects of Bans on the Sale of Assault Weapons and High-Capacity Magazines — RAND Corporation
Mass shooting incidents involving an assault weapon, high-capacity magazine, or both resulted in nearly five times the number of people shot compared to incidents without them.
The Effects of Bans on the Sale of Assault Weapons and High-Capacity Magazines — RAND Corporation
Black Americans constitute 17% of mass shooting perpetrators while comprising approximately 14% of the US population.
Mass shootings by shooter's race U.S. 2025 — Statista
Latino Americans constitute approximately 8% of mass shooting perpetrators while comprising 19% of the US population.
Mass shootings by shooter's race U.S. 2025 — Statista
The homicide victimization rate for Black males aged 15-24 is 74.6 per 100,000, compared to the national rate of 6.1 per 100,000.
Homicide Rates Across County, Race, Ethnicity, Age, and Sex in the US — JAMA Network Open
Studies found that undocumented immigrants in Texas commit homicide at significantly lower rates than U.S.-born individuals.
No evidence 4000 people are killed yearly by undocumented immigrants — Reuters
Minnesota's foreign-born population grew from 428,000 in 2014 to 524,000 in 2024.
How many immigrants are in Minnesota? — USAFacts
📰 Sources (15)
Judge issues temporary order blocking ICE from detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia
New information:
- U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis (Maryland) issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting ICE from detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia at his scheduled check-in.
- ICE released Abrego Garcia from the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania shortly before the court’s deadline; he returned home to Maryland.
- Judge Xinis wrote that federal officials had no legal basis to detain him upon return and "affirmatively misled" the court; she also found no final removal order had been filed.
- Abrego Garcia appeared for a Baltimore ICE check-in Friday morning, with supporters and Rep. Glenn Ivey present.
Abrego Garcia won release from detention. He must check in with immigration officials 14 hours later
New information:
- Kilmar Abrego Garcia was released from immigration detention.
- He was ordered to check in with immigration officials roughly 14 hours after his release.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia heading back to Maryland after judge orders his release from ICE custody
New information:
- A federal judge in Maryland (Judge Paula Xinis) ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s immediate release from ICE custody on Thursday.
- The order requires ICE to notify Abrego Garcia’s attorney before release and to update the court on his release status by 5 p.m. Thursday.
- Pretrial Services is to coordinate with defense counsel on release conditions.
- All parties must file a joint status report by December 18.
- Context noted that ICE had signaled plans to remove him to a third country; the court found his re‑detention lacked lawful authority.
Trump administration disputes court order for release of Abrego Garcia from ICE custody
New information:
- The Trump administration is disputing an immigration judge’s order directing the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from ICE custody.
- The challenge seeks to keep Abrego Garcia detained despite the prior release order.
Judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia to be immediately released from immigration detention
New information:
- An immigration judge ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia to be immediately released from immigration detention on Dec. 11, 2025.
- This marks a significant change in Garcia’s immigration custody status following earlier reporting that he faced federal and immigration proceedings connected to the Annunciation Church mass shooting aftermath.
Judge to rule on whether to release Kilmar Abrego Garcia from immigration custody
New information:
- A federal judge in Maryland (Paula Xinis) said she will rule as soon as possible on whether to release Kilmar Abrego Garcia from immigration custody.
- Judge Xinis noted there is no final order of removal in the record and suggested he likely should not be detained without one.
- ICE official John Cantu testified DHS now proposes deporting Abrego Garcia to Liberia; earlier notices included Uganda, Eswatini and Ghana.
- The government has not pursued deportation to Costa Rica despite prior indications it could accept him; Cantu said Costa Rica is 'not an option at the moment' without explaining why.
- An existing injunction from Judge Xinis currently prevents his immediate removal; the government has moved to lift that injunction.
After mistaken deportation, Abrego Garcia fights smuggling charges. Here’s what to know
New information:
- Federal hearings on Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s motions to dismiss smuggling charges and suppress evidence are rescheduled to Dec. 8–9, 2025, before Judge Waverly Crenshaw in Nashville.
- Judge Crenshaw previously found “some evidence” the prosecution may be vindictive and cited statements by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as cause for concern.
- The parties are disputing whether senior Justice Department officials, including Blanche, can be compelled to provide testimony or documents.
- A DHS agent testified he did not begin investigating the 2022 Tennessee traffic stop until after the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the administration to work to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S.
- Details of the 2022 stop: nine passengers were in the vehicle; Abrego Garcia was let go with a warning after a calm exchange; officers discussed suspected smuggling.
A federal judge in Tennessee warns Trump officials over statements about Kilmar Abrego Garcia
New information:
- A federal judge in Tennessee warned Trump administration officials about their public statements regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
- The admonition was issued on Oct. 28, 2025, in Tennessee federal court.
- The warning pertains to statements about Abrego Garcia, the suspect linked to the Minneapolis Annunciation Church mass shooting.
Sophia Forchas leaves hospital two months after Annunciation shooting
New information:
- Victim Sophia Forchas has been discharged from the hospital roughly two months after the Aug. 27 Annunciation Church shooting.
- The article pinpoints the timing of her release (reported Oct. 23, 2025), marking a concrete recovery milestone.
Annunciation shooting survivor Sophia Forchas released from hospital after 'miraculous recovery'
New information:
- Annunciation shooting survivor Sophia Forchas was released from Hennepin County Medical Center on Thursday, nearly two months after being shot in the head on Aug. 27.
- Doctors had previously warned she could become the third fatality; she underwent surgery that included removal of part of her skull and was placed in a medically induced coma.
- Forchas was able to walk and talk with supporters at discharge and is returning to school; community members greeted her with banners outside HCMC.
Annunciation shooting: Victim count rises to 30
New information:
- Minneapolis police search warrant states total victim count is now 30 for the Aug. 27 shooting.
- Of the 30 victims, 2 were killed and 29 sustained injuries from gunfire; one additional victim had non-gunfire injuries.
- Breakdown: 3 adults and 26 juveniles were injured by gunfire; some additional shrapnel wounds were discovered after initial triage and some victims went to hospitals on their own.
Annunciation shooting: Students' acts of kindness reach Pope Leo XIV
New information:
- Archbishop Bernard Hebda hand-delivered cards made by Annunciation students to Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.
- Archbishop Hebda said the Pope promised his prayers for the families and the Archdiocese in a released statement.
- Auxiliary Bishop Kevin Kenney reported personally giving the Pope a 100th-Annunciation-anniversary button and provided on-air comments about the meeting.
Annunciation shooting: Doctors in Minnesota call for gun ban, special session
New information:
- Minnesota Medical Association organized doctors — including clinicians who treated Annunciation victims — to demand a special legislative session on gun policy.
- Doctors laid out specific policy asks: statewide bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines; a statewide safe-storage requirement; and removal of the state prohibition that blocks localities from enacting stricter gun rules.
- Named quotes from Dr. Trish Vilsic and Dr. Lisa Matson describing the clinical harms seen and converting medical testimony into a public policy demand.
Annunciation mass shooting: Lydia Kaiser returns to school after attack
New information:
- 12-year-old Lydia Kaiser has returned to school as of a Sept. 30 GoFundMe update reported Oct. 1, 2025.
- Medical detail: Kaiser underwent surgery that removed a piece of her skull to allow her brain to swell and will need ongoing care.
- Uvalde Foundation for Kids announced it will award Kaiser its National Student Heroism Award (statement from founder Daniel Chapin).