PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national, pleaded not guilty to federal human smuggling charges after being returned to the U.S. following a protracted legal fight over his deportation to El Salvador.
👥 Who’s Involved: Kilmar Abrego Garcia, his wife Jennifer Vasquez Sura, Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes, and federal prosecutors.
📍 Where & When: Nashville, Tennessee; June 13, 2025.
💬 Key Quote: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi says Abrego Garcia “abused undocumented alien females… who were under his control while transporting them,” and “solicited nude photographs and videos of a minor [and] played a role in the murder of a rival gang member’s mother.”
⚠️ Impact: The case involves allegations of human smuggling, gang affiliation, and other serious crimes, raising questions about the motivations behind the prosecution and the handling of deportation cases.
IN FULL:
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old Salvadoran national, entered a not guilty plea on human smuggling charges in a Nashville courtroom last week. His case follows a controversial deportation and subsequent return to the United States after a protracted legal battle.
Abrego Garcia, who appeared in court wearing a red jumpsuit, faces accusations of participating in a years-long conspiracy to transport illegal immigrants from Texas. A federal grand jury in Tennessee indicted him on two counts: conspiracy to transport aliens and unlawful transportation of illegal immigrants. Prosecutors have also alleged that he is a member of the MS-13 gang and has been involved in violent crimes, including murder, as well as trafficking women, children, firearms, and narcotics.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi laid out the allegations last week, stating that Abrego Garcia had “abused undocumented alien females… who were under his control while transporting them,” and “solicited nude photographs and videos of a minor [and] played a role in the murder of a rival gang member’s mother.”
The Salvadoran father was initially deported in March after being detained during a traffic stop. He spent nearly three months in a Salvadoran prison. Federal judges and the Supreme Court later ordered his return to the U.S.
Jennifer Vasquez Sura, Abrego Garcia’s wife, addressed supporters outside the courthouse on June 13. “To all the families still fighting to be reunited… Kilmar wants you to have faith,” she said. She relayed her husband’s message of perseverance and gratitude to those advocating for his case. Notably, Vasquez Sura had previously filed for a protective order against her husband in 2021, alleging that Abrego Garcia had beaten her on several occasions.
Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes will decide whether Abrego Garcia will remain in custody as he awaits trial.