A U.S. government attorney says the U.S. government would initiate deportation proceedings against Kilmar Abrego Garcia if he's released from jail before trial on human smuggling charges.

The Trump administration will take steps to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia before he goes to trial in Tennessee if he’s released from criminal custody, which could happen as soon as next week, a Justice Department attorney said Monday.

The Maryland man was accidentally deported to El Salvador in March before being returned to the U.S. and imprisoned on charges his lawyers call 'preposterous'