The filing took aim at comments last week in which the homeland security secretary “assailed Mr. Abrego’s character and reputation," his attorney said.

Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr., the judge overseeing Kilmar Abrego Garcia's criminal case in Tennessee, has given generously to Democrats throughout his legal career.

The Trump administration faces setbacks as judges in Tennessee and Maryland block the deportation of Salvadorian migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia, with officials suggesting they may violate court orders.

A federal judge in Tennessee declined on Wednesday to undo a separate judge’s decision to let Kilmar Abrego Garcia remain free while he awaits trial on human smuggling charges — though he’ll continue to remain behind bars for at least another month.

According to court documents, Abrego Garcia suffered sleep deprivation, beatings, inadequate nutrition and psychological torment during his stint at the notoriously brutal prison.