Who is Kilmar Abrego Garcia? The man who has been returned to the US face smuggling charges

Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a 29-year-old man from El Salvador. He lived in Maryland, USA, with his wife and young child, who are both U.S. citizens. But in March 2025, the Trump administration mistakenly deported him to El Salvador, even though a judge had ordered not to do so in 2019.

On Friday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that Abrego Garcia was flown back to the United States. He now faces federal criminal charges in Tennessee for transporting undocumented migrants across state lines.

He appeared in federal court in Nashville and will return on June 13 for his arraignment, when he will enter a plea. Until then, he will stay in federal custody.

Serious Charges for Human Smuggling

According to an indictment, Abrego Garcia worked with a group to smuggle immigrants from the Mexico-U.S. border. He allegedly made over 100 trips between Texas and Maryland between 2016 and 2025.

The case also links him to firearms and drug transportation. A co-conspirator was tied to a deadly crash in Mexico in 2021, where 50 migrants died in a truck accident.

Prosecutors say Abrego Garcia could get up to 10 years in prison for each person he transported. That could mean a life sentence if convicted.

MS-13 Gang Accusations

The Trump administration claims that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang, a group known for violent crimes. Prosecutors allege he joined MS-13 by killing a rival’s mother in El Salvador. However, he is not charged with murder in the current case.

His lawyer, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, strongly denies the gang claims. He said the charges are based on testimonies from people already in prison or facing charges. He called the charges a “fantastical” story.

Political Tensions & High-Profile Resignation

This case has caused major political tension. A top federal prosecutor, Ben Schrader, resigned from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tennessee in protest. Schrader was unhappy with how the case was handled and left his job shortly after the indictment was filed in secret.

Trump Comments & Legal Battle

Former President Donald Trump said Abrego Garcia has a “horrible past” and that the government wanted to “show everybody how bad this guy is.” He added that the Justice Department decided to bring him back.

The U.S. Supreme Court ordered Abrego Garcia’s return earlier this year, stating that his deportation was illegal. Justice Sonia Sotomayor called it a “warrantless arrest.”

Return to the U.S. – Legal Debate Continues

The Justice Department told the court that bringing him back means they followed the Supreme Court order. But his lawyer disagrees. He says Abrego Garcia must now face immigration proceedings before the same judge who ruled in his favor in 2019.

Political Reaction

Senator Chris Van Hollen from Maryland, who visited Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, said the administration finally followed the law. He stated, “They must now prove their case in court, as they should have done from the start.”