UPDATE 1-US judge dismisses indictment against Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Abrego

​judge dismissed an indictment against Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Abrego on ‌Friday, finding that the Trump administration would not have prosecuted him had he not challenged his deportation. His return came only after prosecutors secured a criminal indictment charging Abrego with ⁠human smuggling. Abrego pleaded not guilty and argued he was ⁠being ⁠prosecuted in retaliation for suing the government to be returned.

‌A U.S. ​judge dismissed an indictment against Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Abrego on ‌Friday, finding that the Trump administration would not have prosecuted him had he not challenged his deportation. Abrego, who ‌entered the United States illegally, became a symbol ‌of the Trump administration's drive for mass deportations when he was sent to a megaprison in El ⁠Salvador ​in March ⁠despite a prior court order barring him from being returned ⁠there because of a risk of persecution.

The Trump administration ​brought Abrego back to the U.S. in June ⁠after the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the government to facilitate ⁠his ​return. His return came only after prosecutors secured a criminal indictment charging Abrego with ⁠human smuggling. Abrego pleaded not guilty and argued he was ⁠being ⁠prosecuted in retaliation for suing the government to be returned.