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.

A lawyer for the Justice Department told a federal court in Mayland that it would deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia again -- but not to El Salvador -- before he gets his day in court Tennessee if he is released from pre-trial custody which could happen next week.

During a three-hour hearing, a frustrated U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis appeared incredulous over the administration’s lack of a definite plan for deporting Abrego after a Justice Department attorney said that was the plan.