Democrats advocate for deported man linked to human smuggling
- In December 2022, Kilmar Abrego Garcia was pulled over in Tennessee while driving a vehicle linked to a confirmed human smuggler.
- He has a history of gang membership with MS-13 and was involved in domestic violence incidents.
- The media has extensively covered his situation, framing him as a victim in the context of immigration debates.
In December 2022, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador, was pulled over by a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper for speeding and erratic driving. During the stop, the officer suspected human trafficking due to the circumstances surrounding the vehicle, which had no luggage and was driven by Abrego Garcia, previously identified as a member of the MS-13 gang. The vehicle was registered to Jose Ramon Hernandez Reyes, a confessed human smuggler deported in 2020. Further investigations revealed that Abrego Garcia was not only associated with gang activities but had also been previously arrested in Maryland by Prince George's County Police for being a verified MS-13 member. A federal court determined that his release would pose a danger to the community based on his gang affiliation and criminal background. In addition to being linked to gang activities, Abrego Garcia faced serious domestic violence allegations from his wife, who during a court filing, described multiple incidents of physical abuse against her, citing fear for her safety. Despite these issues, a significant media narrative arose depicting Abrego Garcia as a victim of the Trump administration's immigration policies. Major broadcast networks devoted extensive coverage to his case, portraying him as a