Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant wrongfully deported earlier this year, pleaded not guilty on Friday to federal charges of human trafficking and conspiracy. The plea, entered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes in Tennessee, stems from a 2022 traffic stop that authorities say uncovered a trafficking operation involving unauthorized migrants. Garcia’s legal team confirmed he had reviewed the indictment and understood the charges. His case has drawn national attention due to its intersection with the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies. Despite a Supreme Court order to facilitate his return, the administration reportedly delayed his reentry. Upon his return last week, Garcia was transferred to Tennessee to face federal charges. Prosecutors allege he is a member of MS-13 and a flight risk, but his defense disputes those claims, citing a lack of credible evidence and arguing that his gang affiliation is based solely on a confidential informant’s statements.

Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, emotionally addressed reporters in Nashville, accusing the government of abducting her husband and highlighting their family’s separation. She noted that while their son attended his kindergarten graduation in Maryland, she was “fighting for his dad to come back home.” Defense attorneys have asked for Garcia’s release, citing due process violations and questioning the timing and basis of the charges filed on May 21. Meanwhile, a DOJ statement described Garcia as a dangerous “illegal alien terrorist,” criticizing media outlets and Democratic lawmakers who previously defended him. The legal and political battle over Garcia’s case is far from over.