Released: Body Cam Footage From 2022 Traffic Stop of Deported Maryland Man in El Salvador

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. ( WKRN On a chilly day in 2022, members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol stopped a van containing several individuals. It turned out that the driver was Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland dad who had been making headlines due to his impending deportation to El Salvador.

The individual, who hails from El Salvador, allegedly moved to the U.S. at age 16 and resided in Maryland for about 14 years before being sent back to an El Salvador prison in March due to accusations from 2019 that he was part of the MS-13 gang.

According to the Associated Press In Maryland, law enforcement identified Abrego Garcia as an MS-13 member due to his tattoos, attire, and information from a criminal informant. However, according to his attorneys, this informant stated that Abrego Garcia belonged to an MS-13 chapter in New York, which he has never actually resided in.

The Trump administration initially stated in legal papers that the deportation was because of an “ administrative error ." Since then, both have been doing so. federal judge and the Supreme Court has determined that the administration must "help" him come back, federal appeals court choosing not to overturn the federal judge’s ruling.

In an Interview in the Oval Office with ABC News Earlier this week, President Donald Trump mentioned that he might contact El Salvador's president to get Abrego Garcia deported, yet he added, "If he were as honorable as you claim him to be, I would take action, but that isn’t the case."

By filing a Freedom of Information Act request, News 2 obtained a copy of the body cam video from November 30, 2022, pertaining to the traffic stop, which the Department of Homeland Security Previously mentioned as having occurred on December 1, 2022, this event took place. Interstate 40 near Cookeville .

The incident started when a THP officer pulled over Abrego Garcia for exceeding the speed limit. As the officer got closer, they observed extremely tinted windows along with Texas license plates on the Suburban.

The officer conversed with Abrego Garcia, who was behind the wheel. The woman sitting upfront remained silent and did not make eye contact with the officer.

Trooper: “How are you?”

Abergo Garcia: "Fine, how about yourself?"

Trooper: “Alright.”

Abrego Garcia: “Everything good?”

Trooper: "There are quite a few individuals inside, aren't there?"

Abrego Garcia: "There's only one per seat."

When the stop occurred, Abrego Garcia was 27 years old. Although his English was not fluent, he managed to communicate fairly well, informing the officer that he worked in St. Louis, Missouri, as requested.

Even though Abrego Garcia claimed his license was suspended, the troopers diligently found out that his Maryland license had merely lapsed.

Trooper: "So where do you all live?"

Abrego Garcia said, "Where do I reside? I live in Maryland."

The individual, who is 27 years old, mentioned that everyone in the SUV was involved in construction work in Missouri and they were traveling towards Maryland.

When questioned about who owned the vehicle, Abrego Garcia stated that it belonged to his employer. The officer further asked whether any of them possessed a driver’s license, yet Abrego Garcia was the sole individual with one.

At this stage, another officer reached the location. He believed Abrego Garcia might be involved in human trafficking.

He’s being compensated for transporting these individuals, likely to Maryland, as far as I can tell," explained the second officer. "There doesn't seem to be any baggage with them, correct? Plus, if we remove them from the vehicle, I'm sure they'll have toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes concealed in their clothing.

Abrego Garcia refuted owning any firearms or weaponry.

With each passing moment, additional police officers arrived at the location.

“One of them is transporting individuals. There seem to be around eight or nine people inside at the moment, possibly ten,” stated one officer. An additional law enforcement member commented, "What he's essentially doing is getting compensated for moving human beings."

The authorities inquired about the seating capacity of the SUV, with one officer noting that he had never encountered a Suburban with four rows of seats before. Enforcement officials also stated that they found $1,400 in cash inside an envelope in Abrego Garcia’s pocket.

Towards the conclusion of the stop, officers conversed with the other travelers. There was clearly a significant language gap, and none of them possessed identification cards.

THP informed News 2 that they reached out to both the FBI and Homeland Security during the incident. Nevertheless, representatives from either federal organization did not show up at the location.

Based on the Homeland Security report, as no infractions or criminal acts occurred, both the car and all occupants involved were let go. The Tennessee Highway Patrol provided this statement regarding the event to News 2: "The THP adhered entirely to relevant laws and collaborated with the necessary federal agencies."

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