Mistakenly Deported Man Returns to US, Faces Smuggling Charges

A Maryland man, Kilmer Abgrego Garcia, found himself at the center of an international incident when he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March. However, his time in El Salvador was short-lived. Following an agreement between the U.S. and El Salvadoran governments, Garcia was returned to the United States to face charges. A Tennessee grand jury indicted him on charges of alien smuggling, alleging that he transported undocumented migrants from Mexico and Central America into the U.S. through Texas for nearly a decade. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, "This was his full-time job, not a contractor." The indictment claims Garcia made over 100 trips, transporting migrants, including gang members and children. Upon completion of his sentence in the U.S., Garcia will be extradited back to El Salvador. This case highlights the complexities of international cooperation in law enforcement and the ongoing challenges of illegal immigration.