(In The US) Salvadoran Man, Mistakenly Deported from U.S., Returns to Face Charges for Alleged Migrant Smuggling

 

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old Salvadoran immigrant, has become a focal point in the United States after his erroneous deportation to El Salvador on March 15, 2025. The Trump administration admitted the deportation, which violated a 2019 court order protecting Garcia from removal due to fears of gang persecution, was an “administrative error.” Despite this, Garcia was detained without trial in El Salvador’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), sparking a legal and political firestorm. On June 6, 2025, Garcia was returned to the U.S. to face federal charges in Tennessee for allegedly transporting undocumented migrants, including claims of smuggling thousands, some tied to MS-13, over nearly a decade.

The Trump administration alleges Garcia is an MS-13 member, a claim his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, and attorneys, including Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, vehemently deny, arguing he worked in construction and transported workers, not migrants for profit. The indictment details over 100 smuggling trips, including unaccompanied minors and alleged gang members, with accusations of abuse reported by a co-conspirator. Garcia appeared in a Nashville court on June 6, 2025, facing two felony counts, with an arraignment set for June 13. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and deportation. His case, backed by Maryland lawmakers like Sen. Chris Van Hollen, highlights tensions over due process and immigration enforcement.

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