The Trump administration is in the process of filing criminal charges against Kilmer Abrego Garcia due to a traffic stop that occurred in Tennessee back in 2022. This move aims to address his return from a Salvadoran facility, as his lawyer informed The Hill.
Abrego Garcia, who had been improperly deported despite having protections against removal, has found himself at the center of a legal battle after authorities contested a court ruling that mandated his return. White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt remarked that Abrego Garcia would never experience a “peaceful” life in the U.S.
He was initially stopped for speeding while traveling from St. Louis to his home in Maryland, with video footage showing an officer expressing doubt about the van that had no visible passengers.
Recent court documents reveal that the government is pursuing two counts against Abrego Garcia related to the illegal transport of undocumented immigrants, which ties back to the incident.
“The government has essentially sent Kilmer to a foreign prison, contradicting court orders. After months of confusion and delays, instead of admitting their error, they are opting to prosecute him,” his lawyer stated.
“This indicates they’ve been manipulating the legal process all along. Due process is supposed to allow someone to defend themselves prior to facing punishment. This isn’t justice—it’s a misuse of authority that needs to be held accountable. And yet, he’s being sent back in front of the same immigrant judge who oversaw his case in 2019, which seems quite routine.”
The White House, along with the Justice and State Departments, hasn’t provided immediate comments on the matter.
ABC News broke this story initially.
Previously, multiple courts had directed the Trump administration to bring Abrego Garcia back, as indicated by an April Supreme Court ruling that required the White House to “facilitate” his return.
For quite some time, the White House suggested that they would only arrange for a flight back if the Salvadoran government agreed to accept him. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele expressed during a televised meeting with Trump that he wouldn’t facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return.
In a somewhat contrasting scenario, the Trump administration recently managed to bring back a Guatemalan man who had been wrongfully deported to Mexico, marking a compliance with a court order to return an immigrant.
On Monday, the Justice Department cautioned lower court judges overseeing Abrego Garcia’s situation, mentioning that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was actively involved in discussions regarding his return.
The impending lawsuit against Abrego Garcia is expected to draw considerable attention.
The traffic stop itself didn’t conclude with immediate consequences, and Abrego Garcia explained to the officers that he was transporting his colleagues who were working in construction in St. Louis.
Update: 3:53pm
