(The Center Square) – Kilmar Abrego Garcia is not getting out of jail for now.

The Monday ruling from federal Magistrate Barbara D. Holmes comes at the request of Garcia, who is facing federal charges of human smuggling. Garcia is concerned “based on purported conflicting statements by the government, specifically that it intends to remove Abrego to a third country upon his return to DHS custody following release in this case and that it would ensure Abrego is not removed before trial on the instant criminal charges,” Holmes said in the ruling.

Holmes previously said that Garcia should be released but acknowledged that he would likely remain in federal custody. In her ruling Monday, Holmes said she considered the “perceived conflicting positions taken by the government regarding whether it will deport Abrego pending final disposition of this case including the further review by the District Judge of the government’s request for pretrial detention.”

The ruling means Garcia will be held in federal custody until a July 16 hearing.

“He shall, to the extent practicable, be held separately from persons awaiting or serving sentences or being held in custody pending appeal and he shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity for private consultation with defense counsel,” Holmes said in her ruling.

Garcia was returned to the U.S. after being deported to El Salvador to stand trial on charges of “alien smuggling” and “conspiracy to commit alien smuggling.”

The smuggling charges stem from a 2022 Tennessee traffic stop. Garcia was driving an SUV with eight passengers. One of the officers believed that he was smuggling them, remarking in a video of the traffic stop that he was “hauling these people for money.”

The Center Square) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida’s $115.1 billion budget and a tax relief package worth $1.3 billion in tax relief in a ceremony in Wildwood on Monday.

The second-term Republican governor put his signature on the budget which he says includes about $590 million in line-item vetoes.

“I think signing the budget underscores the fact that Florida is the best-managed state in these United States,” DeSantis said. “So going into this legislative session, our current fiscal year, which ends tonight, we are actually spending less this year than we were the previous fiscal year. How many places are spending less year over year? Not a lot.”

DeSantis said his priority is shifting to property tax reform and he urged Florida voters to hold their local leaders and lawmakers accountable as he seeks to have a ballot initiative on the November 2026 ballot to lower property taxes. 

The $115.1 billion budget passed by lawmakers just weeks before Tuesday’s deadline is $3.5 billion less this year’s outlay of $118.6 billion, a 3.2% cut. GOP legislative leaders needed 106 days, nearly double the normal 60-day legislative session, to find an accord on the state’s budget. 

Also included is $1.3 billion in tax relief and $830 million to pay off the state’s debt into the budget. 

The package includes the phaseout of the state’s business rent tax, with Florida being the only state to mandate such a levy.

“The Legislature has also done something that I’ve been asking for for many years, and that’s eliminating a tax that only Florida has of all 50 states, and that’s taxing business rent,” DeSantis said. “Not good for our economy. It’s not good for for business growth and so that tax is being sunsetted. And again, how many times do you hear governments eliminating a tax like normally, these taxes grow. So thanks for doing that. I think that that’s well intended.”

The amount of tax relief, $1.3 billion, is smaller than what was sought originally by House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, but is the largest recurring one in state history.

“Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature are running to the fight for meaningful, broad-based tax relief to keep more money in the pockets of the hard-working Floridians and local businesses who earn it,” said outgoing Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula. “Inflation has led to significant cost increases, impacting families and seniors. Cutting taxes on essentials helps keep Florida affordable. We know our current sales tax holidays are popular and highly utilized as families and seniors map out and plan for specific purchases.

“Creating a permanent tax holiday every August on clothing, shoes, school supplies, and personal computers expands our current holiday and creates a consistency that benefits both consumers and retailers.”

August will have a permanent sales tax holiday for school supplies and another one in the fall for fishing and hunting supplies. Lawmakers also removed sales tax from disaster preparedness supplies.

Previously, those sales holidays were done by lawmakers from year to year. 

The tax relief bill also allows local governments to reduce or repeal certain discretionary sales surtaxes with a two-thirds vote. 

(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act cleared a Senate hurdle late Saturday, with a final vote in the upper chamber coming as early as Sunday night or Monday.

The procedural vote was 51-49, with two Senate Republicans – U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Rand Paul, R-Ky. – joining all Democrats in voting against.

To delay a final vote in the Senate, Democrats forced a full reading of the 940-page bill on the floor.

Trump celebrated the vote in posts on Truth Social.

“They, along with all of the other Republican Patriots who voted for the Bill, are people who truly love our Country!” Trump wrote. “As President of the USA, I am proud of them all, and look forward to working with them to GROW OUR ECONOMY, REDUCE WASTEFUL SPENDING, SECURE OUR BORDER, FIGHT FOR OUR MILITARY/VETS, ENSURE THAT OUR MEDICAID SYSTEM HELPS THOSE WHO TRULY NEED IT, PROTECT OUR SECOND AMENDMENT, AND SO MUCH MORE. GOD BLESS AMERICA &, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”

The budget reconciliation bill, upon final passage, will implement Trump’s tax, energy, border, and defense policies, including an extension of the tax cuts he delivered during his first term, which are scheduled to sunset at the end of 2025 without action.

Assuming final passage in the Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives – where its version passed 215-214 – would need to agree to changes. Trump has said he wants the measure on his desk by July 4.