A United States federal court decided this Friday to dismiss the human trafficking criminal proceedings against the Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Ábrego, concluding that the investigation into this crime was "tainted" and that the indictment responded to a "retaliation" by the Trump Administration.
"The objective evidence in the case demonstrates that, were it not for the lawsuit that Abrego won against his deportation to El Salvador, the (U.S.) Government would not have initiated this judicial process," stated Tennessee District Judge Waverly Crenshaw in his ruling.
In his resolution, the magistrate emphasizes that "only after Ábrego managed to vindicate his rights did the Executive Branch reopen said investigation. What the Government calls 'new evidence' was not new from a legal standpoint. The subjective good faith of the prosecutor does not remedy the retaliatory nature," and adds that "were it not for the tainted investigation by (acting Attorney General, Todd) Blanche, (...) (Tennessee Assistant District Attorney, Rob) McGuire would not have sought an indictment against Ábrego."
After being deported to El Salvador due to an "administrative error" and subsequently readmitted to the United States by court order, Ábrego was prosecuted in a Nashville, Tennessee court, accused of human trafficking. His arrest occurred in 2022 during a traffic stop, when he was traveling with nine undocumented migrants.
According to the Prosecution, Ábrego García allegedly transported undocumented individuals within U.S. territory on more than 100 trips between Texas, Maryland, and other states. Authorities also linked him to the criminal organization Mara Salvatrucha, although the Salvadoran pleaded not guilty to these accusations.
The migrant was initially deported in mid-March and held at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador—a maximum-security prison promoted by President Nayib Bukele—until U.S. Justice ordered his return, considering that his deportation was due to an administrative error.