A growing controversy is intensifying around the mysterious 2022 Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) traffic stop of Kilmar Abrego Garcia — an event that could expose a federal-level failure to intervene in what troopers suspected was a human trafficking operation.
On the night of November 30, 2022, Garcia was pulled over for erratic driving. Inside his SUV were eight individuals troopers believed to be illegal aliens, while Garcia himself possessed an expired Maryland driver’s license. According to on-scene reports and trooper observations, the stop bore hallmarks of a trafficking or smuggling operation.
Yet, instead of being detained or referred to immigration authorities, Garcia was released — allegedly at the request or under the directive of federal law enforcement.
FBI Refers All Inquiries Elsewhere
When the State News Foundation attempted to clarify the FBI’s role by asking a series of direct questions, the agency deflected. The FBI’s National Press Office issued a brief statement:
“We refer you to DHS and ICE for any inquiries about Mr. Abrego Garcia.”
The outlet’s questions, notably, were not directed at DHS or ICE, but sought to confirm FBI involvement in Garcia’s release. Among the questions the FBI declined to answer:
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Did the FBI order or recommend Garcia’s release?
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Who at the FBI made the decision?
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What was the rationale?
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Was ICE consulted?
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Is the FBI under DOJ review regarding this incident?
No answers were provided.
Video Redactions Deepen the Mystery
The Tennessee Highway Patrol, the agency that initiated the stop, has also come under scrutiny. The police bodycam video from that night — a key piece of potential evidence — was redacted in the portions that include troopers’ conversations with unnamed federal officials.
The redactions hide what could be crucial context about which federal agency directed the release of a potential human smuggler and eight undocumented migrants.
This lack of transparency has only fueled speculation, especially considering that DHS allegedly declined to respond to the scene, leaving the door open for the FBI or DOJ to have taken control of the situation.
DOJ Investigation? No Confirmations
The Department of Justice is reportedly reviewing the incident, but even that is murky. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Wildasin provided the classic bureaucratic answer:
“It is the general policy of the US Attorney’s office to not confirm whether an investigation has been opened or its scope.”
This leaves the public — and potentially victims of trafficking — without clarity, even as federal and state agencies play hot potato with responsibility.
A Pattern of Evasion?
This case comes amid rising national concern over human trafficking at the southern border, systemic migrant smuggling networks, and the lack of accountability within federal enforcement agencies.
That a traffic stop, already backed by probable cause and supported by trooper suspicion, could be so quickly defused by an unknown federal authority is alarming. What’s more troubling is the refusal of multiple federal agencies to own the decision or provide transparency to the public.
If the FBI had no role in the release, why not simply say so?
If DHS did make the call, why not explain their rationale?
And if the DOJ is reviewing the case, how long until the American people get answers?
For now, the most important question remains unanswered: Who told Tennessee troopers to cut Kilmar Abrego Garcia loose? Until the redacted bodycam audio is released and a clear chain of command is established, the truth will remain buried — and public trust in federal transparency will continue to erode.
