TRANSCRIPT
The man at the centre of a legal and political storm has arrived back in the United States.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador earlier this year by the Trump administration, is now facing criminal charges linked to a sprawling human smuggling ring.
US officials allege he played a key role in transporting women and children across the border, but critics argue his deportation violated court orders and due process.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced his return and outlined the gravity of the case against him.
"This defendant trafficked firearms and narcotics throughout our country on multiple occasions. They were using vehicles, SUVs, with added seats in the back, floors that had been ripped out, guns, narcotics, children, women, MS-13 members. That is what the grand jury found. A co-conspirator alleged that the defendant solicited nude photographs and videos of a minor. A co-conspirator also alleges the defendant played a role in the murder of a rival gang member's mother. These facts demonstrate Abrego Garcia is a danger to our community."
When asked what changed since 2021, when Homeland Security first declined to detain him, Ms Bondi linked the renewed action to the change in White House leadership.
"What has changed is Donald Trump is now President of the United States and our borders are again secure. And thanks to the bright light that has been shined on Abrego Garcia, this investigation continued with actually amazing police work. And we were able to track this case and stop this international smuggling ring from continuing."
Ms Bondi said that recent discoveries had led to the indictment issued on 21st of May, and reiterated that the investigation had been ongoing since the initial traffic stop in Tennessee, during which police alleged the vehicle he was driving was owned by a convicted human smuggler.
The two-count indictment alleges Mr Garcia was transporting eight undocumented migrants who had no luggage.
Mr Abrego Garcia’s lawyers maintain he’s not a gang member, and despite years of no charges, they say he deserves his day in court.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche explained how the existence of a formal arrest warrant shifted the legal footing and enabled Mr Abrego Garcia's return.
"There's a big difference between what the state of play was before the indictment and after the indictment. And so the reason why he is back and was returned was because it was an arrest warrant, which was presented to the government in El Salvador. So there's a big difference there. As far as whether it makes the ongoing litigation in Maryland moot, I would think so. But we don't know about this. He just landed today."
Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, visited Mr Abrego Garcia in El Salvador and says the return is not about the individual, but about upholding constitutional rights.
He posted this on X.
"After months of ignoring our Constitution, it seems the Trump Admin has relented to our demands for compliance with court orders and due process for Kilmar Abrego Garcia. This has never been about the man, it’s about his constitutional rights and the rights of all."
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele also posted on X, defending his decision to cooperate with Washington, while distancing himself from any suggestion of protecting gang members.
"As I said in the Oval Office: 1. I would never smuggle a terrorist into the United States. 2. I would never release a gang member onto the streets of El Salvador. That said, we work with the Trump administration, and if they request the return of a gang member to face charges, of course we wouldn’t refuse. No more margaritas under custody."
Outside the court, legal advocacy groups and immigration advocates rallied for Mr Abrego Garcia’s rights, insisting his case reflected deeper issues in U-S immigration policy.
Ama Frimpong is legal director at CASA, a national organisation working to improve the quality of life for working migrants.
She spoke passionately about what she sees as a broader political strategy targeting people of colour.
"Bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia home! But what is happening to Kilmar is all part of Trump and the administration's bigger strategy to erase black and brown people from this country and inch closer and closer to white supremacy."
The legal debate has reached Congress, where Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell confronted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over allegedly doctored evidence used to link Mr Abrego Garcia to the M-S-13 gang.
"This question about Mr. Garcia in this photo that the president posted on April 21. Madam Secretary, you agree that the letters MS and the number 13 in Times Roman numeral font, that they are doctored on this photo? Right?''
NOEM: ''Congressman Abrego Garcia, a known member of MS13, it wasn't based off of tattoos.''
SWALWELL: ''No, no, I'm just asking about this photo.''
NOEM: ''It was based off an entire case.''
SWALWELL: ''I'll accept that. For the purpose of this question. You agree, though, that this is doctored. Is that right?"
NOEM: "It's important to remember is that every single time a case is built..."
SWALWELL: "Madam Secretary, I have a seven year-old, a six year-old and a three year-old. I have a bullshit detector. I'm just asking you, is this doctored or not doctored?''
Mr Garcia's case has been reflective of increasing tensions between the United States' executive branch and the judiciary, which has ruled against a number of Mr Trump's policies.
