The judge did not rule immediately on whether he will stay in custody while he awaits trial, the latest event in a monthslong back-and-forth since he was erroneously sent to a prison in El Salvador.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia pleads not guilty to human smuggling in Tennessee, with defence claiming the charges are meant to justify his mistaken deportation.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose mistaken deportation has become a flashpoint in President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, pleaded innocent Friday to human smuggling charges in a federal court in Tennessee.