The Biden administration tried to cover its tracks. But they left some evidence behind.
And the Trump admin dropped a document in court from the Biden tenure that no one thought existed.
Trump Admin Unveils Document In Slam Dunk For Immigration Court Case
Documents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), unearthed from 2022, reveal that the Biden administration flagged Garcia as a “suspect alien” potentially entangled in human smuggling or trafficking. This revelation, stemming from a routine traffic stop in Tennessee, promises to fortify the Trump administration’s resolve in court as they defend their deportation policies.
The incident unfolded in late November 2022, when a Tennessee state trooper pulled over Garcia for erratic driving and speeding. Far from his Maryland residence, Garcia was behind the wheel of an SUV packed with passengers, traveling from Texas. His Maryland driver’s license, issued in a state known for granting licenses to undocumented immigrants, had expired. The trooper’s report noted, “Subject was observed speeding and unable to maintain its lane, and was subsequently pulled over.”
Rather than issuing a citation, the trooper opted for a warning, citing Garcia’s expired license. Yet, the encounter raised red flags. The vehicle carried no luggage, and Garcia’s evasive demeanor during questioning—pretending to speak less English than he could and answering questions with questions—stoked suspicions. “During the interview, subject pretended to speak less English than he was capable of and attempted to put encountering officer off-track by responding to questions with questions,” the DHS summary recorded on December 6, 2022.
The trooper’s instincts led to a chilling conclusion: human trafficking might be afoot. “There was no luggage in the vehicle, leading the encountering officer to suspect this was a human trafficking incident,” the report stated. DHS’s immigration alert system categorized the event under “human smuggling/trafficking,” a designation that marked Garcia as a person of interest. The Trump administration, now armed with these documents, sees this as pivotal evidence in their legal fight to uphold stringent immigration enforcement.
Homeland Security Investigations stumbled upon the incident while sifting through computer-aided dispatch reports, standard procedure for law enforcement stops. The initial review labeled Garcia a “suspect alien” and referred his case to “passport control.” By December 27, 2022, DHS escalated its stance, instructing personnel to “escort to secondary” should Garcia be encountered again—a directive signaling heightened scrutiny at borders or ports of entry. For the Trump administration, this lapse in follow-through by the Biden team underscores a perceived weakness in prior immigration oversight.
Yet, the trail of DHS action appears to fade here. No records indicate whether the Biden administration pursued the trafficking suspicions further, a gap the Trump administration is likely to emphasize in court as evidence of lax enforcement. This omission fuels their narrative that dangerous individuals slipped through the cracks, necessitating their aggressive deportation measures.
Garcia’s legal team, led in part by Ama Frimpong, has remained silent on these allegations, declining to comment when contacted. Frimpong, appearing on MSNBC, argued for contempt proceedings against the government, sidestepping the trafficking concerns. The Trump administration, however, views these documents as a cornerstone in dismantling the narrative spun by Garcia’s defenders, who paint him as a harmless family man.
Adding layers to Garcia’s story, a 2021 court filing revealed by DHS shows his wife, Jennifer Vasquez, sought a domestic violence restraining order against him. Signed by a judge, the document detailed a “violent encounter” in May 2021. Though the case was dismissed when Vasquez failed to appear at the final hearing, these records challenge the image of Garcia as a peaceful father. For the Trump administration, this bolsters their case that Garcia poses a threat, justifying his deportation.
Further complicating the saga, records from 2019, released by Attorney General Pam Bondi, show Garcia admitted to entering the U.S. illegally with no basis for asylum. Maryland police identified him as an MS-13 gang member, a claim reinforced by his 2019 arrest alongside other gang affiliates. “Kilmar Abrego Garcia is an illegal alien, MS-13 gang member and foreign terrorist who was deported back to his home country,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declared, noting his arrest attire—a sweatshirt emblazoned with an MS-13 symbol.
Leavitt’s press conference painted a vivid picture: Garcia, arrested in a Home Depot parking lot, was linked to “ranking gang members” and confirmed as a high-ranking MS-13 member by a reliable source. “Two separate judges found that Abrego Garcia was a member of MS-13, and that finding has never been disputed,” she added. These details arm the Trump administration with ammunition to counter claims of wrongful deportation.
Despite this, Vasquez stands by her husband, dismissing the gang allegations and framing his deportation as a bureaucratic blunder. “Our family is torn apart during this scary time. Our children miss their dad so much,” she said, urging the Trump administration to “stop playing political games.” Her public campaign, backed by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, has raised nearly $200,000 through a crowdfunding effort, signaling robust support from activist circles.
The fundraising page describes Garcia as “a loving father, husband, son, brother, union construction co-worker” who was “wrongfully disappeared and deported.” Yet, the Trump administration sees this as a smokescreen, pointing to the DHS documents and court records as proof of Garcia’s troubling history. They argue that returning him to the U.S. would undermine public safety and immigration law.
The legal battle has reached the Supreme Court, which issued an administrative stay after U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ordered Garcia’s return by April 7. The Court suggested Xinis may have overstepped her authority while urging the administration to “facilitate” Garcia’s return. For the Trump team, this case is a litmus test for their immigration agenda, with the DHS revelations strengthening their stance in court.
The Conservative Column will update you on any major legal developments on the Trump admin’s immigration policies.
