{"id":2646244,"date":"2026-08-17T22:23:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T02:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-urges-appeals-court-to-revive-abrego-garcia-human-smuggling-case\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T22:26:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T02:26:39","slug":"doj-urges-appeals-court-to-revive-abrego-garcia-human-smuggling-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-urges-appeals-court-to-revive-abrego-garcia-human-smuggling-case\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ urges appeals court to revive Abrego Garcia human smuggling case"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-urges-appeals-court-to-revive-abrego-garcia-human-smuggling-case%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2646244&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Trump administration&#8217;s Department of Justice is appealing a federal court decision too reinstate human smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant with a complex legal history. The DOJ argues that a judge&#8217;s dismissal of the case was an overreach, criticizing it as second-guessing prosecutors and infringing on executive authority. The case originated from a traffic stop in Tennessee in 2022, followed by investigations linking Abrego Garcia to smuggling activities. although he was ultimately removed to El salvador in 2025, a subsequent legal battle arose over whether his return order was improperly used to dismiss criminal charges. The government asserts that deportation efforts do not preclude criminal prosecution and emphasizes that prosecutors acted based on evidence and law, not vindictiveness. The appeal challenges the judge&#8217;s conclusion that the prosecution was presumptively vindictive, citing concerns about judicial overreach and prosecutorial independence. Abrego Garcia&#8217;s immigration situation is further intricate by protections he received due to potential gang persecution, and ongoing litigation continues to address whether he should be deported or face criminal charges.The appeals process is ongoing, with the 6th circuit Court yet to rule.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Trump administration\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Department of Justice<\/a> asked a federal appeals court Monday to revive the human smuggling case against <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kilmar-abrego-garcia\/\">Kilmar Abrego Garcia<\/a>, accusing an Obama-appointed judge of improperly second-guessing prosecutors and intruding on executive authority.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-mdtn\/media\/1458166\/dl?inline\">68-page opening brief<\/a>, the government asked the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4580034\/judge-dismisses-human-smuggling-charges-against-kilmar-abrego-garcia\/\">May decision to dismiss<\/a> a two-count indictment accusing Abrego Garcia of conspiring to transport illegal immigrants for financial gain and unlawfully transporting them.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4690689\/trump-doj-obama-judge-abrego-garcia-case\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump DOJ accuses Obama judge of \u2018Monday-morning quarterbacking\u2019 in bid to revive Abrego Garcia case<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4690010\/tom-homan-fires-back-abolish-ice-democrats-fentanyl-trafficking-151000-kids-found\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Tom Homan fires back at \u2018abolish ICE\u2019 Democrats: Fentanyl, trafficking, and 151,000 children found<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4689253\/ice-investigation-colombian-national-fraudulently-voted-in-u-s-elections\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>ICE investigation aids in jailing of Colombian national who fraudulently voted in US elections<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">FILE \u2013 Kilmar Abrego Garcia attends a rally in his honor at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Baltimore on Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo\/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/AP26142770884872.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kilmar Abrego Garcia attends a rally in his honor at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Baltimore on Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo\/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe district court\u2019s approach would, in multiple ways, violate the cardinal principle that \u2018federal judges should not engage in Monday-morning quarterbacking\u2019 of prosecutorial decisions,\u201d the government wrote, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.almd.90264\/gov.uscourts.almd.90264.112.0.pdf\">citing a recent decision<\/a> involving a judge\u2019s dismissal of the Southern Poverty Law Center\u2019s \u201cvindictive\u201d prosecution claim.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The appeal challenges Crenshaw\u2019s conclusion that the prosecution was presumptively vindictive because it followed Abrego Garcia\u2019s court-ordered return to the United States after he was removed to El Salvador. The government argues that separate litigation involving the government\u2019s deportation effort should not shield him from an otherwise legitimate criminal investigation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, listed as counsel for the U.S. in the appeal, said career prosecutors sought the indictment based on the evidence, the law, and their belief they could prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, not a vindictive motive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe ruling marks a dramatic expansion of the power of courts to dismiss serious criminal charges based on subjective assessments of a prosecutor\u2019s motivations,\u201d Woodward said in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-mdtn\/pr\/us-attorneys-office-files-opening-brief-appeal-united-states-v-abrego-garcia\">statement<\/a> accompanying the filing. He called it \u201can unwarranted intrusion into the Executive\u2019s powers and responsibility to protect the public.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who entered the U.S. illegally, was subject to a final removal order but had received a limited withholding of removal in 2019. That protection barred his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/deportation\/\">deportation<\/a> to El Salvador because an immigration judge found his account of potential gang persecution there credible, though it did not prevent the government from removing him to another country.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During separate 2019 bond proceedings, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-homeland-security\/\">Department of Homeland Security<\/a> officials alleged he was a member of MS-13, relying in part on a Prince George\u2019s County police gang field interview sheet. The immigration judge wrote that the determination \u201cappears to be trustworthy\u201d and was supported by other record evidence, denying him bond. Abrego Garcia has denied gang affiliation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The government removed Abrego Garcia to El Salvador in March 2025 despite the country-specific protection order, an error it later acknowledged. He sued, and the Supreme Court ultimately left in place an order requiring the administration to facilitate his return to the U.S.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DOJ now argues the court-ordered return did not require prosecutors to abandon a possible criminal case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCriminal illegal aliens are often prosecuted and then removed upon their release from prison,\u201d the government wrote. \u201cAnd should the government first pursue removal only, the process may hit a snag. If that happens, the government need not give up on addressing the problem. It can instead change course and prosecute.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The case stems from a November 2022 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tennessee\/\">Tennessee<\/a> traffic stop. The government said Abrego Garcia was carrying multiple passengers with no luggage for an alleged long-distance trip, driving a vehicle registered to a convicted human trafficker, and traveling a route that did not match his account.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Authorities did not bring charges at the time. But after Abrego Garcia\u2019s return, Acting U.S. Attorney Robert McGuire reviewed the stop and pursued further evidence, including phone records, license plate reader data, and witness accounts allegedly linking him to a smuggling operation. A grand jury returned the indictment in May 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crenshaw, who the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> found <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3480843\/judge-who-freed-abrego-garcia-donated-democrats\/\">donated more than $43,000 to Democratic causes<\/a>, later dismissed the case after finding no actual vindictiveness but concluding the circumstances warranted a presumption of retaliation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The judge cited in part the timing of the reopened investigation, public comments by then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and contacts between DOJ officials and McGuire\u2019s office. The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4580034\/judge-dismisses-human-smuggling-charges-against-kilmar-abrego-garcia\/\">May dismissal<\/a> was a setback for the administration\u2019s effort to hold Abrego Garcia accountable through the criminal system, which would in turn make it easier for the government\u2019s deportation effort.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4687765\/how-flock-cameras-help-ice-illegal-immigrants\/\">HOW FLOCK CAMERAS HELP LEAD ICE TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The appeal contends Crenshaw stretched the vindictive prosecution doctrine beyond its traditional limits. The government contends that McGuire, who made the charging decision, had no personal stake in Abrego Garcia\u2019s civil deportation challenge and was not directed by the White House, DHS, or other DOJ leaders to seek an indictment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 6th Circuit has not ruled on the appeal. It is separate from Abrego Garcia\u2019s continuing immigration case in Maryland, where the 4th Circuit last week <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.ca4.182357\/gov.uscourts.ca4.182357.22.0_1.pdf\">left in place an injunction<\/a> preventing his removal to Liberia while litigation proceeds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ seeks to revive Abrego Garcia case, challenges judge<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2646245,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP25283006837692.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[7076,46194,4901],"class_list":["post-2646244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-doj","tag-human-smuggling","tag-justice"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP25283006837692.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2646244"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646244\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2646247,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2646244\/revisions\/2646247"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2646245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2646244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2646244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2646244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}