Prosecution Pushes to Reinstigate Human Smuggling Case | Salt Lake City News

Salt Lake City News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 18, 2026 · 1m

Federal prosecutors are fighting to reinstate human smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, after a Nashville judge dismissed the case calling it retaliatory. The case began in 2022 with a traffic stop where officers suspected he was transporting passengers for profit — no charges were filed then. Things escalated when he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in 2025, despite protections from removal there. After his return, prosecutors indicted him; his defense argued the prosecution was punishing him for winning his deportation battle. The judge agreed and tossed the case. Now, the…