Jose Ramon Hernandez Reyes, a convicted human trafficker who was deported in 2020 after serving 18 months in prison, has resurfaced in the U.S. illegally and is now cooperating with the Department of Justice (DOJ) under limited immunity. Reyes admitted to federal officials that he hired El Salvadoran national Kilmar Abrego Garcia to carry out human smuggling operations, specifically transporting undocumented immigrants from Texas to various destinations across the country.
This admission came in the wake of a November 30, 2022, traffic stop by the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), during which Abrego Garcia was pulled over for reckless driving. Inside his vehicle, troopers discovered eight male passengers packed in tightly, none of whom had luggage—raising immediate suspicions of human trafficking. Garcia was also carrying $1,400 in cash and had a fake Maryland driver’s license. He gave inconsistent accounts of his travel plans and admitted the car belonged to his "boss," later revealed to be Reyes.
Despite these red flags and confirmed suspicions of trafficking, ICE reportedly failed to respond to the incident. The THP contacted the FBI, which—under the Biden administration—ordered troopers to release Abrego Garcia. The release sparked controversy, especially after bodycam footage and public records exposed the extent of the suspected trafficking activity.
Hernandez Reyes, now detained in a federal prison in Alabama, admitted to DOJ officials that he had known Abrego Garcia since 2015 and had paid him to move undocumented immigrants across state lines. According to court documents obtained by The Tennessee Star, Reyes charged $350 per person for transport services.
Abrego Garcia, an illegal entrant since at least 2012, was deported by the Trump administration in March, though he contested the deportation on the grounds of a 2019 court ruling that barred his removal to El Salvador or Guatemala due to safety concerns. Despite this legal stipulation, he was returned to El Salvador.
The case has sparked political and legal controversy, particularly over the role of federal agencies like ICE and the FBI in what critics argue is a failure to properly enforce immigration and trafficking laws.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/05/breaking-convicted-human-smuggler-who-owned-vehicle-2022/
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