Newly uncovered court documents from 2018 are stirring up fresh debate about Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a recently deported undocumented immigrant, and whether he was truly tied to the violent MS-13 gang—something former President Donald Trump has long claimed.
The documents, now confirmed by multiple outlets, reveal serious concerns raised years ago. Edwin Trejo Ramos, the former partner of Abrego Garcia’s wife, had warned the court that Abrego Garcia was involved in gang activity and feared for the safety of his children. In a petition to Maryland’s Prince George’s County Circuit Court, Ramos wrote bluntly, “She is in a relationship with a gang member.”
Adding to those concerns, a report from the Prince George’s County Police Department described how Abrego Garcia was arrested in a Home Depot parking lot alongside three others. Detectives said that, based on their training and experience, they had “reasonable suspicion” that Abrego Garcia and two of the men showed signs of MS-13 affiliation—including their clothing and behavior.
One detail that stood out? According to the report, Abrego Garcia’s outfit at the time “signified his status as a member in good standing with MS-13.” However, his legal team pushed back hard, arguing that there was “no credible evidence” tying him to the gang and challenging the court’s decision to deny him bail.
The issue resurfaced when President Trump was asked in an interview with ABC’s Terry Moran whether he’d consider asking the Salvadoran president to send Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. Trump stood firm, saying he had no interest in making that call, stating, “He is not [the kind of person you’re describing],” and added, “This individual is a member of the MS-13 gang.”
Trump even referred to an alleged photo showing “MS-13” tattooed across Abrego Garcia’s knuckles—a point he used to support his position. While the media has questioned the authenticity of the image, other reports have confirmed that Abrego Garcia does have tattoos that could suggest gang ties.
The debate is far from over, but the court documents lend new weight to Trump’s original claims and have reignited questions around how gang affiliation is determined—and what it means for immigration enforcement moving forward.