Kilmar Abrego Garcia, accused of human trafficking and a member of the MS-13 gang, appeared in federal court in Nashville on Friday. The court proceedings focused on his pretrial hearing, which concluded without a ruling on his custody. Garcia, who was charged with trafficking undocumented migrants and conspiring to do so, entered a not guilty plea, though the judge did not decide whether he can be released pending his trial.
The case against Abrego Garcia stems from a 2022 traffic stop in St. Louis, where prosecutors allege he was part of a smuggling operation involving multiple undocumented migrants. U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes scheduled a future court hearing to determine his custody status. The legal battle against Abrego Garcia has been prolonged, with his deportation being delayed by the Trump administration even after the Supreme Court ordered the administration to facilitate his return.
During the hearing, the prosecution presented testimony from Special Agent Peter Joseph, who detailed the circumstances of the traffic stop. According to Joseph, Abrego Garcia was driving a vehicle with nine passengers and was pulled over with an expired license. Six of the nine passengers were identified as undocumented migrants, with one underage individual reportedly involved in the operation. Joseph testified that Abrego Garcia was paid $1,000 per trip and transported up to 50 people monthly.
The defense argued that some of the testimony was based on hearsay, as Joseph was not present for interviews with female sources. However, Judge Holmes allowed all the testimony to stand. Acting U.S. Attorney Robert McGuire emphasized the seriousness of the charges, citing concerns about the transportation of minors. Meanwhile, the defense argued that there was no basis for fearing Abrego Garcia would flee, emphasizing his ties to the community and his family’s presence in the U.S.
Abrego Garcia’s legal team presented evidence that he has experienced trauma and depression due to his deportation and that he has strong community ties. The case highlights the complex legal and immigration issues surrounding undocumented migrants and the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating human trafficking operations. The hearing concluded without a decision on custody, with a future court date set to determine the next steps in the case.