Abrego Garcia was charged with human smuggling and conspiracy to commit human smuggling, with prosecutors claiming that he accepted money to transport within the United States people who were in the country illegally.

The charges stem from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee for speeding. Body camera footage from a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer shows a calm exchange with Abrego Garcia. There were nine passengers in the car, and the officers discussed among themselves their suspicions of smuggling. However, Abrego Garcia was eventually allowed to continue driving with only a warning.

For those trying to say he was some evil guy involved in human smuggling or trafficking, he had been sent by his employer, in a company-owned van, to pick up and take construction workers from one site to another. He wasn’t “smuggling” or “trafficking” anybody, he was doing his job, and since it involved driving company property, and carrying company personnel, presumably he was a highly trusted and valued employee.

Just a little context on the “criminal monster” we’re talking about here.