Tennessee authorities release bodycam of Kilmar Abrego-Garcia traffic stop

The Tennessee Highway Patrol recently released body camera footage of a 2022 encounter with Kilmar Abrego-Garcia, a Salvadorian national suspected of human trafficking. Abrego-Garcia, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2011, had been issued a deportation order in 2019 and was believed to have ties to MS-13.

The body camera video, obtained by Fox News Digital, shows troopers pulling over Abrego-Garcia for a speeding violation. He had eight other individuals in his car, all male. The troopers suspected that he was trafficking these individuals for money.

During the traffic stop, the troopers discussed calling U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) but the agency did not respond. When Abrego-Garcia’s name was entered into the National Crime Information Center, a warning appeared indicating that he was suspected of being a gang member or terrorist.

Abrego-Garcia was found in possession of $1,400 in cash, believed to be payment for his activities. He also had an invalid Maryland driver’s license. The troopers noted that he changed his story multiple times during the stop, first claiming he was heading back to Maryland, then saying he was going to a different town for work.

Court records revealed that Abrego-Garcia has a history of domestic violence, with his wife, Jennifer Vasquez, expressing fear of him in a 2021 filing. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis had ordered the government to facilitate his return to the U.S.

The body camera footage captured the tense encounter with Abrego-Garcia, shedding light on the suspicions of human trafficking and criminal activity surrounding him. The release of this footage highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating illegal activities like human trafficking and the importance of vigilance in identifying and apprehending individuals involved in such crimes.