Four Democratic lawmakers from the House of Representatives have traveled to El Salvador to spotlight the situation of a man deported to a Salvadoran prison by the Trump administration, which has refused to facilitate his return even after a Supreme Court ruling mandated it. Representatives Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, Maxine Dexter of Oregon, Maxwell Frost of Florida, and Robert Garcia of California arrived in El Salvador on Sunday to assess the condition of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Abrego Garcia, who lived in the United States for over a decade, was deported in what has been described as an erroneous move by administration officials.
The Supreme Court’s order for the administration to assist in Abrego Garcia’s return has been met with resistance, with the administration claiming it lacks the authority to bring him back, despite judicial scrutiny of potential violations of the court’s ruling. The situation has raised concerns about due process and the rule of law, highlighted by the comments from various lawmakers.
The visit follows a trip by Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who met with both Abrego Garcia and Salvadoran officials. Before his deportation on March 15, Abrego Garcia resided in Maryland with his American citizen wife and three children. Despite his protected legal status, which should have prevented his deportation, he was sent to El Salvador on a flight carrying alleged migrant gang members.
Garcia and Frost have reached out to House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, requesting an official delegation be sent to investigate Abrego Garcia’s situation and advocate for his return, yet they have received no response. More Democratic lawmakers are expected to travel to El Salvador in the coming weeks to continue exerting pressure.
The Justice Department has stated that it cannot facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return as he is under foreign custody, while administration officials have publicly accused him of involvement in human trafficking and terrorism. The White House indicated that if Abrego Garcia returns, he would face immediate deportation again.
Senator Van Hollen attempted to negotiate with the Salvadoran government for Abrego Garcia’s return but was unsuccessful. He expressed concerns over a potential “constitutional crisis” if the Supreme Court’s order is ignored, an issue increasingly emphasized by Democrats focusing on due process rather than immigration policy.
House Republicans have also visited El Salvador, praising the country’s tough crime policies. While some Republican officials defend Abrego Garcia’s detention as part of a broader immigration crackdown, Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana labeled the deportation a mistake. President Trump has, meanwhile, advocated for deporting U.S. lawbreakers to Central American prisons during discussions with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.
Democrats, despite being in the minority, see Abrego Garcia’s case as a pivotal issue within the party, emphasizing the significance of due process and democracy. Representative Ansari reiterated the importance of maintaining attention and pressure on this matter for the future of American citizens’ rights.