Salvadoran Repatriated to Face Human Smuggling Charges in Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Salvadoran man, Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, returned to the United States Friday to face serious criminal charges.

Garcia appeared in a Tennessee courtroom just hours after being repatriated, following a two-month legal battle over his deportation. A federal indictment unsealed Friday alleges that Garcia was involved in transporting undocumented migrants across the U.S. for years.

The Trump administration admitted it mistakenly deported Garcia from Maryland to El Salvador. This situation escalated, drawing significant public attention and raising concerns about constitutional violations as the administration ignored earlier court orders for his return.

During his initial court appearance, U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes informed Garcia of the charges against him. Garcia responded in Spanish, affirming he understood the allegations. A hearing is scheduled for June 13, where he will be formally arraigned.

U.S. prosecutors claim Garcia could face a maximum of 10 years in prison for each undocumented person he allegedly transported. The documents also hint at a graver accusation involving homicide in El Salvador, although it was not included in the formal charges.

Garcia’s attorney criticized the government’s actions, describing the charges as an “abuse of power” and asserting that they are a result of the government trying to cover up its mistakes.

In a related political move, federal prosecutor Ben Schrader resigned in protest over how the case against Garcia has been managed, amid concerns it is being pursued for political gain rather than justice.

The case involves claims of a conspiracy spanning almost a decade, with charges indicating that Garcia played a significant role in a human smuggling operation, allegedly transporting thousands of migrants from Mexico and Central America for cash. At least some of those transported included members of the notorious Salvadoran gang, MS-13.

On Friday, Attorney General Pam Bondi expressed gratitude to the Salvadoran government for agreeing to cooperate in Garcia’s return. She stressed that if Garcia is convicted, he would be deported back to El Salvador upon completion of his sentence.

Garcia’s return marks a critical point in a complicated legal saga, one that intertwines immigration, judicial authority, and allegations of human trafficking.