Kilmar Abrego Garcia Pleads Not Guilty to Human Smuggling Charges Amid Controversy
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen, pleads not guilty to human smuggling charges after a wrongful deportation and ongoing legal battles in the U.S.
Overview
- Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen, pleads not guilty to federal human smuggling charges in Tennessee after being wrongfully deported earlier this year.
- His case has sparked controversy, leading to the resignation of a U.S. Attorney's Office official and criticism of the Trump administration's deportation policies.
- Garcia's wife claims the Trump administration abducted him, while his attorneys argue he is a family man and construction worker, denying all allegations.
- Federal prosecutors label Garcia a flight risk and a danger to the community, seeking to keep him detained pending trial despite his not guilty plea.
- The case raises questions about the legality of his deportation and the government's motives, as Garcia faces up to 10 years in prison for each smuggling count.
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Analysis
Emphasizes Kilmar Abrego Garcia's not guilty plea to human trafficking and smuggling charges.
He has been charged with conspiracy and unlawful transportation of undocumented migrants for financial gain within the U.S.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges related to human trafficking and smuggling.
Trump officials allege he is a member of MS-13, a claim denied by his lawyers and family.
A judge is deciding whether to detain or release an individual before their trial.
Abrego Garcia was indicted on May 21 for conspiring with others to bring undocumented migrants into the United States from 2016 to 2025 for financial gain.
His lawyers allege that the government abused its power in his case.
Abrego Garcia was mistakenly sent to a prison in El Salvador but has since returned to the United States after being deported despite having a court order preventing his removal.
The Supreme Court upheld a federal judge's decision ordering the administration to facilitate his return.
The Trump administration has accused Abrego Garcia of being a member of MS-13, a claim that he and his attorneys have refuted, stating it is based on allegations from a confidential informant.
He could face a lengthy prison sentence of up to 10 years for each person transported if convicted.
Articles (18)
Center (10)
"…Mr Ábrego García's lawyers dispute the government's case, describing it as "preposterous" and an "abuse of power.""
BBC News·1M·"…Kilmar Abrego Garcia pleaded not guilty Friday to human smuggling charges, one week after he was brought back to the United States from detention in El Salvador."
ABC News·1M·"…Abrego Garcia's arraignment is the latest twist in a more than three-month legal battle since the Trump administration sent Abrego Garcia, a legal permanent resident of the U.S., to the high-security prison in El Salvador, in what it initially described as an “administrative error.”"
NBC News·1M·"…The charges against Abrego Garcia are human smuggling."
Chicago Tribune"…Kilmar Ábrego García se declaró inocente de cargos de tráfico de personas durante una comparecencia en el tribunal federal en Tennessee el viernes."
Chicago Tribune"…Kilmar Ábrego García se declara inocente de cargos de tráfico de personas en un tribunal federal de Tennessee."
Chicago Tribune"…Abrego Garcia has become a central figure in the debate over Trump’s tougher immigration enforcement."
USA TODAY·1M·"…The charges are the latest chapter in the saga against the sheet metal worker and father of three, whom the Trump administration deported to El Salvador in March in violation of a prior court ruling that barred the government from sending him back to his native country."
USA TODAY·1M·"…Abrego Garcia's attorneys have accused the Trump administration of abusing its power and engaging in "delay and secrecy" in the process of returning him to the U.S."
CBS News·1M·"…Abrego Garcia’s attorneys disagree, pointing out that he was already wrongly detained in a notorious Salvadoran prison thanks to government error, and argue that due process and “basic fairness” require him to be set free."
Associated Press·1M·FAQ
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison by the Trump administration, which claimed he was a member of the criminal gang MS-13—a claim his family and attorneys deny. This occurred despite a 2019 court order that barred his deportation to El Salvador due to fears of persecution.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia faces two federal charges related to transporting undocumented immigrants, not human trafficking. He could face up to 10 years in prison per smuggling count if convicted[2].
Federal prosecutors argue that Garcia is a flight risk and poses a danger to the community, which is why they are seeking to keep him detained while awaiting trial.
Prosecutors allege that Garcia participated in a conspiracy to transport thousands of undocumented migrants, including children, from Mexico and Central America from Texas to the interior of the U.S. for payment. This is based on a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee where he was driving a vehicle with nine passengers.
History
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15 articles - 1M3 articles