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Department of Justice appeals dismissal of human smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed an appeal with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate human smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national. The criminal case, which stems from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee, was dismissed in May by U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw.
Judge Crenshaw ruled that the prosecution was ‘presumptively vindictive,’ concluding that the government likely brought the charges in retaliation for Abrego Garcia’s successful legal challenge against his wrongful deportation to El Salvador in 2025. The judge noted that the investigation into the 2022 incident was only aggressively pursued after Abrego Garcia was ordered back to the United States following his legal victory.
The DOJ argues that the lower court’s decision improperly expands judicial authority by allowing judges to second-guess prosecutorial motivations based on subjective assessments. Federal prosecutors maintain that the indictment was based on legitimate evidence and law, asserting that career prosecutors believed they could prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. They further contend that the government has a clear interest in prosecuting criminal conduct regardless of prior litigation.
Entities
Department of Justice · El Salvador · George Kelesis · Kilmar Abrego Garcia · Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals · Pam Bondi · Paula Xinis · Sigal Chattah · Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals · Todd Blanche · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit · Waverly Crenshaw
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 15 SOURCES] The DOJ denied accusations that the prosecution of Abrego Garcia was vindictive, citing objective evidence of legitimate reasons. offthepress.com · seacoastoldies.com · time.news · www.cbsnews.com · www.washingtonexaminer.com · +9 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Judge Paula Xinis found that government lawyers misled the court regarding Costa Rica's willingness to accept Abrego Garcia. dnyuz.com
- [● 16 SOURCES] The DOJ is asking a federal appeals court to reinstate human smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia. offthepress.com · seacoastoldies.com · time.news · www.washingtonexaminer.com · www.cbsnews.com · +11 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] Abrego Garcia denies the human smuggling charges and claims the prosecution is retaliation for his legal challenges to his deportation. time.news · offthepress.com · seacoastoldies.com · internewscast.com · lavozhispanact.com · +10 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] A lower court dismissed the human smuggling charges against Abrego Garcia, ruling the prosecution was likely vindictive. offthepress.com · seacoastoldies.com · time.news · www.washingtonexaminer.com · www.cbsnews.com · +13 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] The DOJ claims the lower court's ruling improperly expands judicial power to second-guess prosecutorial decisions. seacoastoldies.com · time.news · www.cbsnews.com · www.washingtonexaminer.com · offthepress.com · +9 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] The human smuggling charges against Abrego Garcia stem from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee. offthepress.com · seacoastoldies.com · www.cbsnews.com · internewscast.com · lavozhispanact.com · +7 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] The DOJ argues the indictment was based on evidence and law rather than political motivation. seacoastoldies.com · time.news · www.cbsnews.com · www.washingtonexaminer.com · offthepress.com · +9 more