The Department of Justice released a series of previously sealed documents Wednesday that confirm Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Salvadoran national at the center of a contentious deportation case, was formally validated as a member of the violent MS-13 gang. The disclosure directly undercuts claims made by critics of the Trump administration who had portrayed Garcia as a victim of unlawful removal.
NEW: @FoxNews has obtained the written domestic violence allegations from Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s wife in 2021, in which she alleges he is a repeat wife beater & writes “At this point, I am afraid to be close to him. I have multiple photos/videos of how violent he can be and all… pic.twitter.com/s7yCji9jjq
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) April 16, 2025
Attorney General Pamela Bondi authorized the release of internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) records, law enforcement documentation, and immigration court filings that together paint a comprehensive and consistent picture of Garcia’s ties to Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)—a transnational criminal organization known for its brutal tactics and global reach.
-
A Gang Field Interview Sheet from the Prince George’s County Police Department listed Garcia as “validated as a member” of MS-13.
-
He held the rank of “Chequeo” within the “Westerns” clique, a designation commonly associated with gang hierarchy and internal enforcement roles.
-
Validation was based on confirmation from a “past, proven, and reliable source.”
-
DHS Form I-213, typically used to document apprehensions, was accepted by immigration courts as inherently trustworthy and admissible.
The forms outlined Garcia’s 2019 arrest in Hyattsville, Maryland, where he was found loitering with other known MS-13 members near a Home Depot—a frequent gathering point for unregulated labor and gang activity.
Cuomo says illegal immigrants can’t collect social security benefits.
I love this argument because it concedes they steal social security numbers while insisting there’s just no way they could game the benefits system with them.
Ridiculously obtuse.pic.twitter.com/qkFuU7yT9d
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) April 17, 2025
Garcia’s deportation has become a lightning rod in the broader debate over U.S. immigration enforcement. Opponents had painted him as a nonviolent, undocumented father living in Maryland with a U.S. citizen wife and children with special needs. Their narrative described his deportation as politically motivated and lacking due process.
However, newly released court documents tell a different story. A 2019 bond memorandum from an immigration judge described Garcia as a flight risk and public safety threat, noting:
-
Repeated failures to appear in court for prior violations.
-
Weak asylum claims and a lack of credible community ties.
-
A speculative and unsupported relationship with his then-fiancée, despite her pregnancy.
These findings substantially weaken the legal and political arguments opposing his removal.
In a separate development earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Garcia’s deportation was procedurally flawed due to an administrative oversight in his withholding of removal status. The Court instructed the federal government to “facilitate” his return, but did not compel the administration to extract him from El Salvador.
Garcia is currently imprisoned in El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, a high-security facility designed for members of transnational gangs.
The Trump administration has defended the deportation as lawful and appropriate, and the DOJ’s new disclosures now provide concrete justification rooted in national security and public safety assessments.
