Federal judge dismisses criminal case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia — General President Coleman responds

On Friday, May 22, 2026, Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. dismissed the criminal case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, “ruling that the Trump administration had brought human trafficking charges against him as part of a vindictive effort to punish him for challenging his wrongful deportation to El Salvador last year,” according to the New York Times. SMART General President Michael Coleman issued the following statement in response:

“From the beginning, our demand has been simple: Kilmar, like every single one of our members and every person in this country, must be granted his constitutional right to due process. He must be given his day in court. In Nashville, Kilmar was given his day in court, and on Friday, we saw just how important that is — for Kilmar, for his family and for the principles of justice that we all rely on. We will continue to stand for Kilmar’s rights and for every person’s right to due process, because that is what makes this country great.”