Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a construction worker from Maryland, has pleaded not guilty to human smuggling charges in a Tennessee federal court. His lawyers argue that the charges are an attempt to justify his incorrect deportation to El Salvador in March. The case started after the Supreme Court ordered his return because of increasing pressure. Abrego Garcia's defense team questioned the reliability of government witnesses, suggesting they cooperated to get immigration benefits. The charges come from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee where Abrego Garcia was driving nine passengers, which made authorities suspect smuggling. Even with these suspicions, he was allowed to leave with just a warning. Before the hearing, U.S. attorneys said Abrego Garcia was a danger to the community and might try to run away. They accused him of selling drugs and weapons, and hurting women he transported. These charges caused Ben Schrader, the former head of the criminal division at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, to resign.