NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) \u2014 Lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia on Wednesday tried to poke holes in the human smuggling case the government is pursuing against him in Tennessee, while a federal judge said he won\u2019t rule this week on freeing Abrego Garcia from jail, a decision that could precipitate his deportation. <\/p>\n
Abrego Garcia became a flashpoint in the debate over President Donald Trump\u2019s immigration policies when he was wrongfully deported to his native El Salvador<\/a> in March. That expulsion violated a U.S. immigration judge\u2019s 2019 order<\/a> that shields Abrego Garcia from deportation to El Salvador because he likely faces threats of gang violence there. <\/p>\n Facing mounting pressure and a U.S. Supreme Court order<\/a>, the Republican administration returned Abrego Garcia to the U.S.<\/a> last month to face the smuggling charges, which his attorneys have called \u201cpreposterous.\u201d That case relies on the testimony of cooperating witnesses, several of whom have either requested or received help with immigration and criminal matters in return for their statements, according to earlier testimony. <\/p>\n Under questioning on Wednesday, Homeland Security special agent Peter Joseph said he was unaware that a lead witness against Abrego Garcia was calling other witnesses from jail. Asked whether there was reason to believe they might have coordinated their testimony, Joseph noted that three of the witnesses are related.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s always a possibility,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The charges stem from a 2022 traffic stop for speeding, during which Abrego Garcia was driving a vehicle with nine passengers. Police in Tennessee suspected human smuggling, but he was allowed to drive on.<\/p>\n