Additional Coverage:
- Tennessee bodycam of ‘Maryland man’ traffic stop shows troopers’ hands tied despite smuggling clues (foxnews.com)
Tennessee Highway Patrol Bodycam Footage Shows Suspected Human Trafficker
Newly released body camera footage from the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) reveals details of a 2022 traffic stop involving Kilmar Abrego-Garcia, a Salvadoran national suspected of human trafficking. The stop, which occurred on November 30, 2022, began as a speeding violation but quickly escalated when troopers noticed Abrego-Garcia’s vehicle was overcrowded with eight male passengers.
The video shows troopers questioning Abrego-Garcia about the number of seats and passengers in the vehicle. One trooper can be heard commenting, “He’s hauling these people for money.” A source familiar with the case revealed that the redacted portion of the video includes a discussion about contacting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), though ICE ultimately did not apprehend Abrego-Garcia at that time.
According to the source, a National Crime Information Center search revealed a warning connecting Abrego-Garcia to suspected gang activity or terrorism. The video also shows troopers discovering $1,400 in cash on Abrego-Garcia, which they suspected was payment for his human trafficking operation. He also presented an invalid Maryland driver’s license.
Throughout the stop, Abrego-Garcia offered conflicting accounts of his travel plans, initially stating he was returning to his Maryland residence, then claiming he was en route to another town for work. He indicated the passengers had originated their journey in St. Louis, Missouri.
Court records from Prince George’s County, Maryland, paint a disturbing picture of Abrego-Garcia’s past, including allegations of domestic violence. A 2021 court filing from his wife, Jennifer Vasquez, details her fear of him and documents his violent behavior.
Despite this history and his immigration status—Abrego-Garcia illegally entered the U.S. in 2011, received a deportation order in 2019, and was subsequently deported to El Salvador in March 2023—U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis had previously ordered the U.S. government to facilitate his return to the United States.
Two previous judges have also concluded that Abrego-Garcia is likely affiliated with MS-13. He was deported in March and sent to the Terrorist Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador.