• Kilmar Abrego Garcia's lawyers seek a gag order against officials from the Trump administration.
• Attorneys argue public comments from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi jeopardize Garcia's right to a fair trial.
• Abrego Garcia was wrongfully deported to El Salvador earlier this year and faces charges of human smuggling.
• Trump administration officials have made inflammatory statements accusing him of gang affiliation and criminal behavior.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia's legal team filed a motion in Nashville federal court on Thursday, requesting a gag order to prevent top officials from the Trump administration, specifically DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi, from making derogatory public comments about him. The attorneys argue that these statements, described as "baseless public attacks," are compromising Garcia's right to a fair trial as he faces charges of human smuggling. This request is the third of its kind made by Garcia's legal team, highlighting ongoing concerns about the impact of public statements on judicial proceedings, according to Newsweek, ABC News, and CBS News.

The allegations against Garcia stem from his previous wrongful deportation to a high-security prison in El Salvador, which has raised questions about the legality of the Trump administration's actions. Following his release from custody, which triggered renewed incendiary comments from government officials, Garcia's lawyers argued that these remarks threaten the integrity of the trial. They contend that ongoing public attacks could irreparably impair the ability to conduct a fair trial, according to HuffPost and Newsweek.

The Trump administration officials have claimed that Abrego Garcia is affiliated with the MS-13 gang, a statement that both he and his attorneys strongly deny. During recent public appearances, officials have labeled him a violent criminal and human trafficker, escalating calls for his deportation to Uganda, despite his pleas for asylum in the United States. Bondi stated that Garcia "needs to be in prison," further complicating his legal defense, according to ABC News and HuffPost.

Moreover, the legal team has expressed concerns over the potential impact these public narratives may have on jury perceptions, arguing that it could obstruct the formation of a fair jury pool. Following their client’s release from pre-trial detention, the lawyers' filing emphasized that continued derogatory commentary by officials could hinder the case's integrity and complicate the calling of defense witnesses due to fears they might face similar backlash in public, according to CBS News, HuffPost, and ABC News.