Fri Jun 13 18:05:37 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a rewrite of the text as a news article:
**Summary:**
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man wrongly deported to El Salvador despite a protection order, has pleaded not guilty to human smuggling charges in a Tennessee federal court. The Trump administration, after facing pressure to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. and potential contempt of court charges, indicted him on charges of leading a large-scale smuggling operation. Critics view the indictment as a politically motivated attempt to justify his initial deportation and deflect criticism of due process violations. The case has highlighted concerns about the Trump administration’s deportation policies, the right to due process for migrants, and has caused turmoil within the Justice Department.
**News Article:**
**Wrongfully Deported Salvadoran Man Pleads Not Guilty to Smuggling Charges**
**Nashville, TN** – Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man who was wrongly deported to El Salvador earlier this year, pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges of human smuggling in a Nashville federal court. The case, which has drawn national attention and sparked outrage over the Trump administration’s immigration policies, took a new turn with the indictment.
Abrego Garcia, a Maryland construction worker, was initially deported to El Salvador in March, despite a 2019 protection order based on fears of gang violence. The deportation led to intense public scrutiny and questions about the legality of President Trump’s “mass deportation” campaign.
Facing pressure to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. and potential contempt of court charges for defying orders to secure his release, the Trump administration announced an indictment accusing Abrego Garcia of leading a smuggling ring, transporting undocumented migrants from Texas to Maryland and other states. The administration cites a 2022 traffic stop as evidence, where Abrego Garcia was driving a vehicle with nine undocumented passengers.
Critics argue that the indictment is a politically motivated attempt to save face and deflect criticism of due process violations. Abrego Garcia’s defense team has called the charges “preposterous.”
“There’s no way a jury is going to see the evidence and agree that this sheet-metal worker is the leader of an international MS-13 smuggling conspiracy,” said his lawyer, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg.
The case has also caused internal discord within the Justice Department, with one prosecutor resigning in protest the day of the indictment.
In court, US Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes assured Abrego Garcia of his right to a fair trial, reiterating the presumption of innocence. Prosecutors, seeking to keep Abrego Garcia detained, have made additional allegations of child pornography, abuse, and murder, none of which are included in the indictment.
Abrego Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, called on supporters to continue fighting for his freedom, emphasizing that her husband wants everyone to keep the faith. The trial promises to be a closely watched battleground for issues of immigration, due process, and the power of the executive branch.
First Piper 