Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man whose deportation to El Salvador made him a flashpoint in President Donald Trump’s immigration policy, has been indicted in federal court in the Middle District of Tennessee on conspiracy to transport aliens and unlawful transportation of undocumented aliens.
Abrego Garcia, of Maryland, appeared in an after-hours court hearing June 6 in Nashville and will be arraigned at 10 a.m. June 13, a spokesman confirmed.
During a White House press briefing earlier June 6, United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi said El Salvador returned Abrego Garcia to the country after being presented with warrants for his arrest.
Abrego Garcia has played a significant role in a nine-year smuggling ring, Bondi said. He was indicted by a grand jury May 21.
“He made over 100 trips, the grand jury found, smuggling people throughout our country,” Bondi said, noting that MS13 gang members and violent gang terrorist organization members were among the thousands of undocumented immigrants brought in to the U.S. during Abrego Garcia’s trips.
“This is especially disturbing because Abrego Garcia is also alleged with transporting minor children,” Bondi said. “The defendant traded the innocence of minor children for profit.”