The judge presiding over the criminal case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia in Tennessee on Thursday directed both sides to stop making public statements about the case after defense lawyers argued the government was depriving him of his right to a fair trial by making inflammatory comments.

Abrego Garcia's lawyers filed court documents on Wednesday, alleging he suffered severe beatings and psychological torture while in an El Salvador prison.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia is being held in jail in Tennessee as he awaits trial on federal human smuggling charges.