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Saturday, Dec 13, 2025
Outside the box.
US Charges Kilmar Ábrego García with Human Smuggling Following Return from El Salvador
Kilmar Ábrego García, who was deported from the US to El Salvador in violation of a court order, faces serious charges related to the smuggling of undocumented immigrants.
Kilmar Ábrego García, a Maryland resident recently deported to El Salvador, has been returned to the United States and indicted on charges of human smuggling, according to US Attorney General Pamela Bondi.
In a press conference, Bondi stated that the US government presented an arrest warrant for Ábrego García to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele.
She indicated that evidence presented to a grand jury on May 21 suggested that over the past nine years, Ábrego García has played a significant role in an alien smuggling operation.
He was indicted on two counts related to the alleged smuggling of undocumented immigrants.
Bondi noted that if convicted, Ábrego García could face a prison sentence of up to ten years before being deported back to El Salvador.
The charges stem from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee during which law enforcement officials suspected he might have been transporting undocumented migrants, including individuals affiliated with the Salvadoran gang MS-13. Despite other allegations of involvement in criminal activities by unnamed co-conspirators, the current indictment is limited to the two counts regarding smuggling.
Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland has voiced that the Trump Administration had previously ignored due process in Ábrego García’s case, claiming that the Administration finally complied with court orders regarding his return.
Van Hollen reiterated his stance on ensuring due process rights for all, stating that this matter is about constitutional rights and not about the individual himself.
Meanwhile, President Bukele responded to Van Hollen’s advocacy by referencing past criticisms of the senator on social media.
Bukele claimed that his government cooperated with US authorities on the return of individuals wanted for serious crimes in the US. This exchange reflects ongoing tensions between US officials and their Salvadoran counterparts over the management of undocumented immigrants and the legal complexities surrounding their deportation.
The incident illustrates broader debates within US political circles regarding immigration enforcement, due process, and the historical context of US-El Salvador relations, particularly concerning migration issues.
As legal proceedings unfold regarding the human smuggling charges, the situation continues to attract national attention, highlighting the complexities of immigration law, rights of individuals facing deportation, and the political ramifications of such cases.
In a press conference, Bondi stated that the US government presented an arrest warrant for Ábrego García to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele.
She indicated that evidence presented to a grand jury on May 21 suggested that over the past nine years, Ábrego García has played a significant role in an alien smuggling operation.
He was indicted on two counts related to the alleged smuggling of undocumented immigrants.
Bondi noted that if convicted, Ábrego García could face a prison sentence of up to ten years before being deported back to El Salvador.
The charges stem from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee during which law enforcement officials suspected he might have been transporting undocumented migrants, including individuals affiliated with the Salvadoran gang MS-13. Despite other allegations of involvement in criminal activities by unnamed co-conspirators, the current indictment is limited to the two counts regarding smuggling.
Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland has voiced that the Trump Administration had previously ignored due process in Ábrego García’s case, claiming that the Administration finally complied with court orders regarding his return.
Van Hollen reiterated his stance on ensuring due process rights for all, stating that this matter is about constitutional rights and not about the individual himself.
Meanwhile, President Bukele responded to Van Hollen’s advocacy by referencing past criticisms of the senator on social media.
Bukele claimed that his government cooperated with US authorities on the return of individuals wanted for serious crimes in the US. This exchange reflects ongoing tensions between US officials and their Salvadoran counterparts over the management of undocumented immigrants and the legal complexities surrounding their deportation.
The incident illustrates broader debates within US political circles regarding immigration enforcement, due process, and the historical context of US-El Salvador relations, particularly concerning migration issues.
As legal proceedings unfold regarding the human smuggling charges, the situation continues to attract national attention, highlighting the complexities of immigration law, rights of individuals facing deportation, and the political ramifications of such cases.
