Thread by @kyledcheney

HAPPENING NOW: Judge Xinis is leaning toward issuing another restraining order to block Kilmar Abrego Garcia's immediate deportation to Uganda at least through this week — she wants an evidentiary hearing on Friday.

XINIS says law may require Abrego's deportation to his country of choice, given that Costa Rica has indicated a willingness to accept him, give him refugee status and vow not to re-deport him to El Salvador.

Uganda, where administration plans to send him, has made no promises.

XINIS emphasizes that she has serious concerns about the claim that DOJ pressured Abrego into a guilty plea by offering him deportation to Costa Rica — and threatening deportation to Uganda if he refused.

DOJ's Drew Ensign says Abrego's deportation is not "imminent," given pace of third-country removals.

XINIS emphasizes to Ensign: "Your clients are absolutely forbidden at this juncture to remove Mr. Abrego Garcia from the continental United States."

ENSIGN: "Your honor, yes, we certainly understand that."

ABREGO's lawyer says his client is currently detained in Virginia. He wants Judge Xinis to order that Abrego be detained within 200 miles of her courthouse so he can be present for hearings.

XINIS orders that Abrego not be moved from his detention facility in Virginia, in order to ensure he has access to counsel.

Xinis asks Ensign if her oral order is enough — knowing Ensign has previously argued that only written orders count. Ensign says the oral order is fine(!)

Judge Boasberg will be very interested in Ensign's agreement to abide by Xinis' oral order, given that the Trump administration argued Boasberg's Alien Enemies Act oral order was not binding.