Newer Charges From Trump Administration Against Kilmar Abrego Garcia Appear "Vindictive," Judge Rules

"Waverly Crenshaw Jr., a federal judge based in Nashville, Tennessee, said in a 16-page order issued on Friday that there is a "realistic likelihood" that the human trafficking charges against Abrego Garcia were a "vindictive" action by the administration after he filed a successful lawsuit challenging his illegal deportation to El Salvador."

"For several weeks after Abrego Garcia was initially deported in March, the White House insisted that he was sent to a "super-prison" in El Salvador because of alleged ties to the MS-13 gang, bizarrely citing his tattoos and the types of hats he wore as supposed evidence. President Donald Trump went as far as to share a blatantly photoshopped picture of Abrego Garcia's hands with the letters "MS-13" on them to justify the illegal deportation. Legal experts condemned the administration for violating Abrego Garcia's due process rights."

"Upon Abrego Garcia's return to the U.S. in June, Trump officials issued dubious charges against Abrego Garcia stemming from a traffic incident years prior. In 2022, Abrego Garcia was pulled over by law enforcement officers who expressed suspicion that he was smuggling undocumented immigrants across the country. Abrego Garcia told officers that he was driving co-workers to and from construction jobs, which his wife later noted he did regularly. He was not arrested during that incident."

Waverly Crenshaw Jr. found a realistic likelihood that human trafficking charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia were vindictive after he sued over an illegal deportation to El Salvador. The ruling allows Abrego Garcia's lawyers to pursue evidence and testimony from Trump administration officials. The White House claimed Abrego Garcia was sent to a "super-prison" for alleged MS-13 ties, citing tattoos and hats as evidence, and President Trump shared a photoshopped image to justify the action. Legal experts said Abrego Garcia's due process rights were violated. After his June return, officials brought charges tied to a 2022 traffic stop where officers suspected smuggling but did not arrest him.

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