Abrego Garcia Wins Dismissal of US Human-Smuggling Case

PoliticsUSAbrego Garcia Wins Dismissal of US Human-Smuggling CaseFacebookXLinkedInEmailLinkGiftExpandKilmar Abrego Garcia and his wife Jennifer Vasquez Sura.Photographer: Alex Wong/Getty ImagesFacebookXLinkedInEmailLinkGiftGift this articleContact us:Provide news feedback or report an errorConfidential tip?Send a tip to our reportersSite feedback:Take our SurveyNew WindowFacebookXLinkedInEmailLinkGiftBy Patricia Hurtado and Zoe TillmanMay 22, 2026 at 11:16 PM UTCBookmarkSaveA federal judge in Tennessee dismissed human-smuggling charges against Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia after concluding the US government brought the case in retaliation for his legal fight against being deported. US District Judge Waverly Crenshaw Jr. said in his 32-page ruling Friday that the government “would not have brought this prosecution” if Abrego Garcia hadn’t filed a lawsuit challenging his removal to El Salvador. The human-smuggling case was filed after a court ordered Abrego Garcia returned to the US.