A federal prosecutor 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 development came after a Justice Department attorney told a Judge Xinis that the government's "plan at this stage" is to deport Abrego Garcia to a third country if he is released on bond by a judge in Tennessee, where he is facing human smuggling charges.