NASHVILLE — A federal judge overseeing the criminal case against Kilmer Abrego Garcia has instructed his attorneys not to make public comments regarding the case.
This directive from U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw followed a request from Abrego’s lawyer. He argued that officials were engaging in “public disparity campaigns” that could sway public opinion and violate standard courtroom protocols.
The defense brought up various statements from individuals in the Trump administration. Abrego has faced accusations labeling him as a “monster,” “illegal predator,” “terrorist,” and other derogatory terms.
“Since Kilmer Armando Abrego Garcia challenged El Salvador in March 2025, he has been portrayed as evil in government statements,” the attorney noted.
Abrego Garcia reportedly faced severe abuse in a Salvadoran prison, according to a recent court filing.
“Mr. Abrego deserves a fair trial,” the lawyer asserted. “But, based on the government’s present approach, it seems likely he will be deprived of that right.”
The court’s ruling emphasizes that public comments could significantly undermine the legal proceedings. This rule applies not just to lawyers but also to government agencies and their employees.
Previously residing in Maryland, Abrego was mistakenly sent to a prison in El Salvador as part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration by the Trump administration.
Documents from a separate Maryland immigration case revealed that Abrego suffered from “serious assault, severe lack of sleep, inadequate nutrition, and psychological torture” while imprisoned.
He later moved to Nashville, where he faces two human smuggling charges. Prosecutors assert that he was involved in a scheme to transport undocumented immigrants across the country.
A judge subsequently decided to keep Abrego imprisoned, citing deportation concerns.
A former federal prosecutor recognized the error that led to Abrego’s wrongful imprisonment in Secott Prison, resulting in their own termination. They later filed a whistleblower complaint suggesting their firing was linked to the case’s exposure.
Abrego, with no prior criminal record in the U.S., maintains his innocence regarding the charges.
He is expected back in a Nashville courtroom on July 16 for a hearing to decide his federal custody status.
Both sides acknowledged that if Abrego is released from U.S. Marshals custody, he would likely be detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Abrego, now 29, entered the U.S. illegally from El Salvador as a teenager, but a 2019 ruling by an immigration judge barred deportation to his home country.
A federal magistrate in Nashville recently confirmed the possibility of Abrego’s release.
However, the defense attorney expressed concerns about temporary incarceration in Nashville, referencing contradictory statements from the Trump administration regarding his potential removal from the U.S. before his trial.
