Footage Shows Kilmar Abrego Garcia Was Stopped Under Suspicion of Human Trafficking

Fox News (Right bias) released bodycam footage from a traffic stop in 2022 where Tennessee troopers questioned Kilmar Abrego Garcia about human trafficking. 

The Details: In the footage, troopers can be heard discussing suspicions that Abrego Garcia was transporting people for money. Despite these suspicions, no charges were filed at the time of the stop. Federal officials have used this incident to argue that Abrego Garcia was a member of the criminal gang MS-13, though his lawyers maintain there is no known link between him and the gang. 

Other Accusations: According to a protective order request Abrego Garcia's wife filed in 2020, Abrego Garcia once said he could kill his wife and “no one could do anything to him.” In the document, she also alleged he grabbed and hit her at times and submitted pictures of the bruising. She rescinded the order a few days later, saying their son's birthday was coming up, and Abrego Garcia agreed to counseling. 

For Context: Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador in March 2025 due to an administrative error that ignored a judge's 2019 ruling. The ruling stated that Abrego Garcia could not be sent back to El Salvador, where his life could be at risk, but could be deported to another country. The Trump administration has refused to return him to the US. Many, including his wife has advocated for his return.

How The Media Covered It: CNN (Lean Left) focused on the lack of evidence linking Abrego Garcia to MS-13, noting that Abrego Garcia had no criminal record and the bodycam footage was used by officials to “paint him as a criminal.” Fox News emphasized that Abrego Garcia was suspected of being a gang member or terrorist when his name was entered into the National Crime Information Center during the traffic stop. The Fox News coverage also referenced court records showing a history of domestic violence by Abrego Garcia.

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