On April 18, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released an investigative report by Homeland Security Investigations’ Combined Intelligence Unit concerning Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The investigation highlights a traffic stop that raised suspicions about Abrego Garcia's involvement in human trafficking and confirmed his association with the MS-13 gang.
The report describes a traffic stop that occurred on December 1, 2022, when Tennessee Highway Patrol officers stopped Abrego Garcia for speeding. Officers observed eight other individuals in the vehicle, with no luggage, raising human trafficking concerns. All the passengers provided the same home address corresponding to Abrego Garcia’s address.
During the investigation, Abrego Garcia limited his English communication skills, creating difficulties in obtaining information. When questioned about the ownership of the vehicle, he claimed it belonged to his boss, adding that he worked in construction.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a MS-13 gang member, illegal alien from El Salvador, and suspected human trafficker. The facts reveal he was pulled over with eight individuals in a car on an admitted three-day journey from Texas to Maryland with no luggage. The facts speak for themselves, and they reek of human trafficking. The media’s sympathetic narrative about this criminal illegal gang member has completely fallen apart. We hear far too much about the gang members and criminals’ false sob stories and not enough about their victims.”
The officer at the scene issued a warning citation for driving with an expired driver's license, noted as a Maryland "Limited Term Temporary" license, but did not proceed with a citation for driving infractions. Further investigation into the names of other vehicle occupants was hindered by illegible handwriting. Previous police records from 2019 confirmed Abrego Garcia’s association with the MS-13 gang.
