New York Times Misses Key Details in Reporting on Kilmer Abrego Garcia
The New York Times did not include critical information regarding Kilmer Abrego Garcia’s criminal background in an article that accused President Donald Trump of disregarding a judge’s order.
In a report, the Times stated that the Trump administration claimed judges involved in Garcia’s deportation case were experiencing evasion and delays from U.S. officials regarding information about his deportation. Notably, the article failed to mention allegations concerning Garcia’s possible ties to MS-13 or other trafficking offenses. This omission seems significant given the seriousness of the claims against him.
The Times reported that Garcia’s lawyers accused the Trump administration of acting “maliciously” by not adhering to court mandates. Garcia’s legal team mentioned plans to present witnesses lacking direct knowledge of his case, while expressing frustration over delayed document disclosures.
Stephen Miller, a policy director at the White House, argued in an April interview that the judge’s order for Garcia’s return isn’t valid since Trump classified MS-13 as a domestic terrorist group.
Garcia entered the United States illegally in 2011 and was located in a Home Depot parking lot on March 28, 2019, dressed in a Chicago Bulls hat and a hoodie that obscured most of his face. An immigration judge ordered his deportation, but he remained in the U.S. for a time.
In 2022, he was apprehended on a Tennessee highway while allegedly transporting eight undocumented passengers. The vehicle belonged to a man who had previously been convicted for human smuggling.
Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vazquez Sula, sought a restraining order against him in 2021, citing instances of physical abuse that included scratching and punching.
A ruling from the Supreme Court on April 10 indicated that the Trump administration should push for Garcia’s return, citing inconsistencies in his deportation proceedings. However, El Salvador’s President, Naive Bukele, confirmed on April 14 that Garcia would not be allowed back into the U.S.
The Times has not yet responded to inquiries from the media regarding the article.
