US judge dismisses criminal case against wrongly deported Salvadoran man
A federal judge in the United States has dismissed criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran individual who was mistakenly deported during Trump’s immigration policies. Judge Waverly Crenshaw determined that the indictment constituted a misuse of prosecutorial authority. Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident married to an American citizen, was one of over 200 individuals sent to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison in March. He had been living in the U.S. with protected legal status since 2019 due to a ruling that he faced potential harm in El Salvador. Justice Department attorneys acknowledged that the deportation resulted from an administrative mistake. After his return in June, he was arrested in Tennessee and accused of human smuggling, claiming the charges were retaliatory for his legal attempts to prevent deportation.
Key facts
- US District Judge Waverly Crenshaw dismissed the criminal case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
- The indictment was ruled an abuse of prosecuting power.
- Abrego Garcia was among over 200 people sent to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison in March.
- He had been living in the US under protected legal status since 2019.
- Justice Department lawyers admitted the deportation was an administrative error.
- After returning to the US in June, he was detained in Tennessee and charged with human smuggling.
- He argued the charges were vindictive prosecution for his legal efforts to avoid deportation.
- Abrego Garcia is a Maryland resident married to an American woman.
Entities
Institutions
- US Department of Justice
- US District Court
- CECOT mega-prison
- ICE Baltimore field office
- Reuters
Locations
- United States
- El Salvador
- Maryland
- Tennessee
- Baltimore