Ximena Bustillo

Well, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced in a press conference yesterday that a grand jury in Tennessee had charged Abrego Garcia of federal crimes. The indictment has one count of alien smuggling and one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling. She said that the grand jury found that over the past nine years, Abrego Garcia played a significant role in an alien smuggling ring.

Well, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced in a press conference yesterday that a grand jury in Tennessee had charged Abrego Garcia of federal crimes. The indictment has one count of alien smuggling and one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling. She said that the grand jury found that over the past nine years, Abrego Garcia played a significant role in an alien smuggling ring.

Well, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced in a press conference yesterday that a grand jury in Tennessee had charged Abrego Garcia of federal crimes. The indictment has one count of alien smuggling and one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling. She said that the grand jury found that over the past nine years, Abrego Garcia played a significant role in an alien smuggling ring.

The indictment alleges that he made over 100 trips transporting people without legal status between Texas and Maryland and other states. NPR has not independently confirmed the smuggling accusations. So what has been the response from Abrego Garcia's legal team?

The indictment alleges that he made over 100 trips transporting people without legal status between Texas and Maryland and other states. NPR has not independently confirmed the smuggling accusations. So what has been the response from Abrego Garcia's legal team?

The indictment alleges that he made over 100 trips transporting people without legal status between Texas and Maryland and other states. NPR has not independently confirmed the smuggling accusations. So what has been the response from Abrego Garcia's legal team?

His lawyer, Simon Sandoval Moshenberg, told me that after months of delay and secrecy, authorities were bringing his client back to, quote, not correct their error, but to prosecute him. You know, as you mentioned, Abrego Garcia had been deported to El Salvador by mistake in 2019.

His lawyer, Simon Sandoval Moshenberg, told me that after months of delay and secrecy, authorities were bringing his client back to, quote, not correct their error, but to prosecute him. You know, as you mentioned, Abrego Garcia had been deported to El Salvador by mistake in 2019.

His lawyer, Simon Sandoval Moshenberg, told me that after months of delay and secrecy, authorities were bringing his client back to, quote, not correct their error, but to prosecute him. You know, as you mentioned, Abrego Garcia had been deported to El Salvador by mistake in 2019.

He received a protection from deportation to his native El Salvador because he successfully argued before an immigration judge that he could face gang violence if he was sent there. A federal judge in Maryland ordered that the Trump administration facilitate Abrego Garcia's release and return. And this order was upheld unanimously by the U.S. Supreme Court.

He received a protection from deportation to his native El Salvador because he successfully argued before an immigration judge that he could face gang violence if he was sent there. A federal judge in Maryland ordered that the Trump administration facilitate Abrego Garcia's release and return. And this order was upheld unanimously by the U.S. Supreme Court.

He received a protection from deportation to his native El Salvador because he successfully argued before an immigration judge that he could face gang violence if he was sent there. A federal judge in Maryland ordered that the Trump administration facilitate Abrego Garcia's release and return. And this order was upheld unanimously by the U.S. Supreme Court.

But until the indictment, the administration had not been able to communicate its progress in doing this. And Trump officials even said that they would not bring him back.

But until the indictment, the administration had not been able to communicate its progress in doing this. And Trump officials even said that they would not bring him back.

But until the indictment, the administration had not been able to communicate its progress in doing this. And Trump officials even said that they would not bring him back.

Right. Abrego Garcia has been accused of being a member of the Salvadoran MS-13 gang. Trump officials used that allegation as a justification for removing him in the first place and then not returning him. His lawyers and wife have disputed those claims in court. And now he's being indicted by the DOJ and is being returned under that context.

Right. Abrego Garcia has been accused of being a member of the Salvadoran MS-13 gang. Trump officials used that allegation as a justification for removing him in the first place and then not returning him. His lawyers and wife have disputed those claims in court. And now he's being indicted by the DOJ and is being returned under that context.

Right. Abrego Garcia has been accused of being a member of the Salvadoran MS-13 gang. Trump officials used that allegation as a justification for removing him in the first place and then not returning him. His lawyers and wife have disputed those claims in court. And now he's being indicted by the DOJ and is being returned under that context.

President Trump has long campaigned and created policy aimed at making a connection between immigration and criminality. Beyond Abrego Garcia, the Trump administration has both said that they want to arrest and remove, quote, the worst of the worst. But they have also vowed to arrest and remove anyone without legal status, blurring that line.

President Trump has long campaigned and created policy aimed at making a connection between immigration and criminality. Beyond Abrego Garcia, the Trump administration has both said that they want to arrest and remove, quote, the worst of the worst. But they have also vowed to arrest and remove anyone without legal status, blurring that line.