However, the administration maintained that Abrego Garcia was affiliated with the MS-13 gang, a claim that his attorneys disputed.

“The grand jury discovered that for the past nine years, Abrego Garcia has been a key player in an immigrant smuggling network,” Bondi announced at a press briefing.

“Today’s development confirms what we’ve asserted all along — that the administration had the capability to return him, but simply chose not to,” said Rossman, a partner at the Quinn Emanuel law firm.

Who is Kilmar Abrego Garcia?

US District Judge Paula Xinis has opened a probe into what, if anything, the Trump administration had done to secure his return, after his lawyers accused officials of stonewalling their requests for information. That led to concerns among Trump’s critics that his administration would openly defy court orders.