A suspected MS-13 gang member deported under President Trump is under federal investigation after links to a major human smuggling ring surfaced. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, previously removed from the U.S. as part of an immigration enforcement deal with El Salvador, is now being scrutinized by the Department of Justice following statements made by a convicted smuggler.
FBI agents are interviewing Jose Ramon Hernandez-Reyes, a federal inmate in Alabama who claims Abrego Garcia worked for his smuggling network. Hernandez-Reyes, indicted in 2020 on seven counts tied to human trafficking, told investigators that Abrego Garcia was hired multiple times to transport illegal aliens from the southern border into the interior of the country.
A 2022 Tennessee traffic stop, recently made public through DHS-released bodycam footage, revealed Abrego Garcia behind the wheel of a vehicle registered to Hernandez-Reyes. Inside were nine passengers without luggage, raising suspicions of illegal entry. Despite alerting federal agents, Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers released Abrego Garcia at the scene.
Abrego Garcia has a troubling history. Before his deportation, he lived in Maryland where he was accused of domestic violence. His wife reportedly filed two protective orders against him. Additionally, law enforcement has long suspected ties between Abrego Garcia and the violent MS-13 gang.
Despite these concerns, top Democrats are calling for his return to the United States. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) has visited El Salvador to push for the release of Abrego Garcia from prison, asserting that he is a victim of political deportation under the Trump administration.
The Justice Department’s investigation focuses on whether Abrego Garcia played an active role in Hernandez-Reyes’s smuggling network. ABC News reports that Hernandez-Reyes referred to his past operation as a “taxi service” for undocumented migrants. He claimed to have worked with Abrego Garcia since 2015, frequently hiring him for transportation duties.
Abrego Garcia’s case highlights growing concerns over the re-entry of criminal aliens and the pressures from progressive lawmakers to reverse Trump-era deportations. While law enforcement builds its case, political efforts continue to paint Abrego Garcia as a victim rather than a potential criminal collaborator.
