DOJ Investigates Kilmar Abrego Garcia's 2022 Tennessee Traffic Stop

The U.S. Department of Justice is actively investigating a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national previously deported by the Trump administration and suspected of involvement in human trafficking. During the stop, Abrego Garcia was pulled over for speeding while transporting eight passengers, allegedly undocumented migrants, but was released after telling police they had been working construction in Missouri. Federal investigators have questioned Jose Ramon Hernandez-Reyes, the registered owner of the car and a convicted felon, who admitted to hiring Abrego Garcia multiple times to transport undocumented migrants across the U.S. Body camera footage and law enforcement impressions from the incident further supported suspicions of human trafficking activity. The DOJ's current efforts represent an escalation in gathering evidence about Abrego Garcia's possible role in organized crime, though it remains unclear if charges will be filed. The investigation has added complexity to Abrego Garcia's legal saga, which also includes a contentious court battle over his deportation and alleged MS-13 affiliations.