Kilmar Ábrego García, recently returned to the US after being wrongfully deported to El Salvador, pleaded not guilty to criminal charges of participating in a migrant smuggling conspiracy. The 29-year-old Maryland man entered his plea in a Nashville court and is contesting federal prosecutors’ attempt to detain him pending trial.

The Trump administration deported Ábrego García without due process, sending him to a notorious prison in El Salvador. Despite judicial objections and a constitutional battle, the administration initially refused to facilitate his return for a fair legal process. However, the Justice Department’s decision to bring him back to the US to face charges potentially signals a resolution to the confrontation between the administration and the judiciary.

Ábrego García, accused of being part of a smuggling ring, faces charges related to transporting immigrants illegally across the US-Mexico border and to various destinations within the country. The criminal proceedings aim to provide him with due process rights, allowing him to contest the indictment returned by a grand jury.

Critics of the Trump administration argue that Ábrego García’s swift deportation without a hearing exemplifies the prioritization of increased deportations over due process in the administration’s anti-immigration crackdown. The case raises concerns about the balance between immigration enforcement and protecting individuals’ legal rights as they navigate the US legal system.