ABC News correspondent Steven Portnoy spoke with WTOP News anchors Anne Kramer and Shawn Anderson about the case.
According to the Associated Press, Abrego Garcia’s erroneous deportation became a contentious issue amid the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies. He is now being brought back to the U.S. to face criminal charges tied to what authorities have described as a large-scale human smuggling operation.
Officials stated that if convicted, Abrego Garcia will be deported to El Salvador after serving any sentence. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi remarked, “This is what American justice looks like,” when announcing his return and the charges.
The allegations stem from a 2022 traffic stop by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, where officers suspected human trafficking. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report released in April noted that the vehicle’s passengers carried no luggage and shared the same address as Abrego Garcia. However, he wasn’t charged at the time and was only given a warning for an expired license. DHS said he was transporting people from Texas to Maryland via Missouri for construction work.
Abrego Garcia’s wife responded to the DHS report in April, stating he occasionally transported workers between job sites and that it wouldn’t be unusual for him to be driving others. She emphasized he hadn’t been cited for any wrongdoing.
Despite the lack of formal charges, the Trump administration has repeatedly highlighted Abrego Garcia’s past encounters with law enforcement. Amid legal pressure and congressional calls, officials were ordered to return him to the U.S.
Recently, Tennessee authorities released bodycam footage from the 2022 stop, which showed a peaceful exchange. Officers privately expressed concerns about trafficking due to the number of passengers without luggage and mentioned finding $1,400 in cash.
Abrego Garcia’s attorney, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, said there was no evidence of a crime in the footage but stressed that Garcia deserves a fair trial.
This development follows the Trump administration’s compliance with a court order to bring back a Guatemalan man who was deported to Mexico, despite his fears for his safety. That man, referred to in court as O.C.G., is believed to be the first deportee returned to U.S. custody during President Trump’s second term.
