Kilmar Abrego Garcia officially enters not-guilty plea on trafficking charges
Kilmar Abrego Garcia (L) on Friday formally pleaded not-guilty to federal human trafficking and conspiracy charges, while his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura also said a court appearance this week was the first time she was able to see her husband since he was arrested and detained in March and deported to a prison in El Salvador. File Photo courtesy of President Nayib Bukele
June 13 (UPI) -- Kilmar Abrego Garcia on Friday formally pleaded not-guilty to federal human trafficking and conspiracy charges.
Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, also said a court appearance this week was the first time she was able to see her husband since he was arrested and detained in March.
The Salvadorian migrant was returned to the United States earlier this month after being deported to a prison in El Salvador.
"Even though it was through a video screen, I was finally able to see Kilmar," Vasquez Sura, who is a U.S. citizen, told supporters at a rally in Nashville.
"I'm grateful for everyone who has been fighting for this milestone, in this fight to bring my husband back home with our children."
The couple were living in Maryland with their young children at the time Abrego Garcia was arrested.
Lawyers will now argue in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes whether the 29-year-old should be granted bail before trial.
Prosecutors have argued he "would have enormous reason to flee" if released.
Abrego Garcia was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in March and eventually deported to El Salvador.
Supporters argued Abrego Garcia was denied due process in the deportation proceedings
A U.S. District Court judge later ordered the federal government to "facilitate" his return, after the Justice Department later acknowledged Abrego Garcia's deportation was made in error.
President Donald Trump's administration pushed back against efforts to bring Abrego Garcia back to the United States.
In 2019, a federal judge ruled in 2019 that Abrego Garcia could be deported, but not back to his home country of El Salvador.
He was indicted on two federal charges last month before his return to the United States. Abrego Garcia is accused of playing a "significant role in an alien smuggling ring," dating back as far as 2016, Attorney General Pam Bondi said at the time of the indictment.
Bondi said if Abrego Garcia is found guilty, he will be returned to El Salvador.
Police stopped the vehicle he was driving in Tennessee in 2002 and found several Hispanic men with no identification.
After he was returned to the United States, Abrego Garcia was immediately sent to Tennessee to face the federal charges.
Federal officials also contend Abrego Garcia was a member of the El Salvadoran MS-13 gang, accusations he and his family deny. They argue Abrego Garcia fled El Salvador because of the threat of gang violence.
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She added: 'It might not be the best time to keep that normalcy — that puts a lot of pressure on parents.' If attending a public event or milestone celebration presents a big risk, Aguirre said, parents might consider opting out, and making plans to ensure their presence is felt from afar. 'Prep the child ahead of time and say, 'We are not able to physically be there, but we are so proud of this accomplishment,'' Aguirre said. She said parents might tell their child, 'We are going to ask [a friend at the event] to blow this whistle, and when they blow it, know that we are there.' 'For eighth-graders, there would be heartache around not having parents there, but I can also imagine if anything were to happen, they would feel a lot of guilt,' Aguirre said. On the day of Ana's son's graduation, the school auditorium opened hours early, so that families did not have to wait on the sidewalk. But the celebration was bittersweet, she said. Fear was palpable among both the students and the crowd. And familiar faces were absent. 'It's a little hard to face sometimes,' Ana said. 'But at the same time we have to be with them in these important moments in life.' Paige and her 8- and 11-year-old daughters stood in front of Long Beach Civic Center on Tuesday evening, alongside roughly 400 other protesters. They chanted slogans near the Port Headquarters building amid signs and swirling American and Mexican flags. 'Seeking safety is NOT a crime,' one sign read. 'Humans are not illegal,' said another. The family isn't new to protesting. Paige and both daughters took to the streets in 2020 after George Floyd's murder sparked outrage. But this time the issue is personal: The girls' father is an undocumented Mexican immigrant. 'Now that it's impacting our family significantly, it's a bit harder for her,' Paige said of her younger daughter. 'She's fighting for her family.' Paige is separated from the girls' father, and he lives elsewhere. It's been difficult for the kids to spend nights apart from him, she said. To allay their worries, he's stayed over a couple of nights. And attending the protest provided additional comfort, because it showed the children that they were part of a supportive community. In times of crisis, giving kids the chance to express themselves by participating in the moment helps them process their feelings, Brymer said. 'People are out protesting because they love their culture, and they're trying to advocate for their rights and for rights of' others, she said. But participating doesn't necessarily have to mean protesting, which may not feel appropriate for some, Aguirre said. Instead, children can help in other ways, such as helping to deliver groceries for a vulnerable neighbor, she said. It's important, Brymer said, to acknowledge that children 'really want to be those agents of change.' Sequeira reports for The Times' early childhood education initiative, focusing on the learning and development of California children from birth to age 5. For more information about the initiative and its philanthropic funders, go to
