Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man at the center of a major deportation case, has pleaded not guilty to federal migrant smuggling charges. His hearing was held in Tennessee, where U.S. authorities are now pushing to keep him in custody while he awaits trial.
During the court session, a federal agent testified that one of Garcia’s alleged associates claimed Garcia made as many as 50 border-to-border smuggling trips each month. For every trip, he was reportedly paid between $1,000 and $1,500. Prosecutors say the key incident that led to the current charges happened in 2022, when Garcia was pulled over by police in Tennessee with nine passengers in his vehicle. Body cam footage reportedly captured officers suspecting he was transporting undocumented migrants.
At the time, Garcia claimed they had just finished working on a project in St. Louis and were heading home. But license plate tracking showed no signs that his vehicle had even been in St. Louis that year. According to courtroom reports from The Tennessean, the Department of Homeland Security later confirmed that at least six of the nine individuals were undocumented. Two have already been deported.
Garcia’s public defender argued that the charges are not serious enough to keep him detained. “Mr. Abrego Garcia should be released,” the lawyer told the judge.
However, prosecutors disagree. Although he faces only one smuggling charge right now, they claim Garcia’s actions go far beyond a single offense. In a detailed indictment, they allege he also transported drugs and firearms during some smuggling runs. Authorities also say that he smuggled underage migrants and, in one disturbing claim, reportedly solicited nude photos from a minor, based on an informant’s testimony.
Federal authorities have also linked Garcia to the MS-13 gang—a dangerous criminal network based in El Salvador with operations throughout the U.S. While an immigration judge accepted this claim, Garcia and his family have strongly denied any gang involvement.
Earlier this year, Garcia was deported on March 15 as part of a controversial mass deportation flight to El Salvador. While many on the flight were Venezuelan nationals removed under the Alien Enemies Act, several Salvadorans, including Garcia, were also aboard. Many had been accused of MS-13 affiliation.
Even if Garcia wins his smuggling case in Tennessee, officials say they still plan to hold him under immigration custody, meaning he would remain detained even if the criminal charges are cleared.
This case has a complex legal background. Previously, a federal judge in Maryland, Paula Xinis, had ordered the government to attempt to bring Garcia back into the U.S. to comply with a legal review. Now, government officials claim they have met that requirement, even though Garcia remains detained in another jurisdiction.
Outside the courthouse, Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, spoke to reporters for the first time since his March 12 arrest. She shared an emotional message from Garcia, delivered through a video call, urging other detained families to have faith. “He said these dark times are where we’re facing tribulations. But keep praying and keep fighting. The light will come soon.”
Ms. Vasquez Sura had traveled from Maryland, missing her son’s kindergarten graduation to be at the hearing in Tennessee. Holding back tears, she said, “Our family should never have been in this situation. We should be with our children.”
However, public records show that Vasquez Sura had previously filed protective orders against Garcia, citing allegations of abusive behavior. This raises further questions surrounding the family’s complicated situation.
As the case continues, Garcia remains behind bars, caught between the criminal justice system and immigration authorities. His trial date has yet to be set, but the outcome could impact not only his future but also how similar smuggling cases are handled in the current political climate.