A federal judge has officially dismissed the criminal human smuggling case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, concluding that the prosecution was motivated by political vindictiveness rather than legitimate legal grounds. Abrego Garcia, who had been wrongfully deported to a high-security prison in El Salvador last year, returned to the United States in June following a government admission of error and a Supreme Court mandate.

US District Judge Waverly Crenshaw issued a sharp rebuke of the government’s actions, noting that federal prosecutors only reopened the investigation into a 2022 Tennessee traffic stop after Abrego Garcia successfully challenged his deportation in court. The judge ruled that the executive branch failed to rebut the presumption of vindictiveness, stating that the prosecution would not have occurred had Abrego Garcia not fought for his legal rights. The case, which centered on allegations of human smuggling, was deemed a retaliatory measure by the administration to justify his initial removal.

Abrego Garcia, a long-term Maryland resident married to a US citizen, had previously been granted protection from deportation due to fears of gang-related persecution in his home country. Despite this, he was sent to El Salvador’s CECOT megaprison in 2025, sparking a prolonged legal battle. Throughout the ordeal, he faced multiple arrests and attempts by the government to relocate him to third countries, including Uganda. Following the dismissal of the charges, supporters and lawmakers have hailed the ruling as a significant victory for constitutional rights and due process.