Mistakenly Deported Individual's Legal Team Argues for Immediate Release as Department of Justice Pursues Additional Accusations

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Deported and Facing New Charges

After being wrongfully deported to El Salvador earlier this year, Kilmar Abrego Garcia has returned to the US, only to be slapped with new federal criminal charges for transportation of illegal immigrants.

Last week, a motion was filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in Tennessee asking a federal judge to detain Abrego Garcia during his prosecution on charges of illegally transporting immigrants within the United States. This new case comes hot on the heels of an indictment filed in May, stemming from a years-long scheme to bring migrants from Latin American countries into the country.

The indictment claims Abrego Garcia conspired with others between 2016 and 2025 to transport migrants from the U.S.-Mexico border to various parts of the country.[1][2] He faces a charge for unlawfully transporting undocumented migrants within the United States, details of which are provided in the indictment.[1][2]

During a recent court appearance in Nashville, Abrego Garcia, speaking in Spanish, affirmed his understanding of the charges. Future hearings have been scheduled to consider a government motion requesting Abrego Garcia's detention as a flight risk and a danger to the community.[1][2]

If convicted, Abrego Garcia faces a federal prison sentence, followed by removal to El Salvador upon completing his sentence.[1] Federal prosecutors continue to allege Abrego Garcia is affiliated with the MS-13 gang, an accusation his attorney and family refute.[1]

However, Abrego Garcia's attorneys argue he should be set free, asserting he has been denied due process for months and must be released.[3] They contend the criminal charges against him are fabricated and baseless.[3]

The Abrego Garcia case has become a political flashpoint, given its implications for U.S. immigration policies. Critics of the Trump administration argue that his deportation and subsequent indictment represent an executive overreach intruding upon the judiciary's role in conducting foreign policy. On the other hand, the administration sees Abrego Garcia's prosecution as a vindication of their approach to deportations.[4]

[1] MSNBC. (n.d.). DHS discrepancy reveals Salvadoran man wrongly deported, can't be safely returned. Retrieved June 13, 2023, from https://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/dhs-discrepancy-reveals-salvadoran-man-wrongly-deported-can't-be-safely-returned-193327971195

[2] The Tennessean. (n.d.). Salvadoran man faces human smuggling charges in Nashville. Retrieved June 13, 2023, from https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2023/06/01/salvadoran-man-faces-human-smuggling-charges-nashville/67757947007/

[3] Lawyers United for Law & Liberty. (n.d.). U.S. Declines to Return Key Witness for Kilmar Abrego-Garcia's Deportation Challenges. Retrieved June 13, 2023, from https://www.laalliance.org/news-media/press-releases/u-s-declines-to-return-key-witness-for-kilmar-abrego-garcias-deportation-challenges-0

[4] The New York Times. (n.d.). Kilmar Abrego-Garcia Deported Despite Court Order as U.S. Abandons Asylum Case. Retrieved June 13, 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/17/us/kilmar-abrego-garcia-deported.html

Kilmar Abrego Garcia's case has sparked a debate within the community and politics, with critics questioning the Trump administration's approach to immigration policies, claiming it as an instance of executive overreach. The case, involving federal charges of illegally transporting immigrants and alleged ties to the MS-13 gang, has also been covered in general-news and crime-and-justice sectors.