Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen recently returned from El Salvador, where he met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man wrongfully deported by the current U.S. administration. The future of Abrego Garcia’s case remains uncertain, despite efforts from Democratic representatives who plan to travel to El Salvador advocating for his release. However, this bipartisan pressure has not yet produced tangible results.
President Donald Trump, along with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, remains steadfast in their decision to keep Abrego Garcia out of the United States, despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s call for the administration to facilitate his return. An image shared by President Bukele showcased Van Hollen’s meeting with Abrego Garcia, who is currently detained in El Salvador’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT. Bukele emphasized the detainee’s “honor” of remaining in Salvadoran custody, while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Abrego Garcia will “never live in the United States of America again.”
This situation represents the latest political clash, as Democrats face challenges in counteracting during the early months of Trump’s second presidency. The issue transcends Abrego Garcia’s immigration status and raises concerns about the administration’s defiance of judicial orders. A federal appeals court criticized the administration’s stance, asserting that the claim of incapability to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. should be deemed “shocking.”
Republicans have shown firm resistance, criticizing Van Hollen’s trip and alleging Abrego Garcia’s ties to the MS-13 gang—an accusation his attorneys refute due to lack of evidence. Republican Senator John Cornyn from Texas accused Democrats of prioritizing politics over national security. Van Hollen, undeterred, vowed to continue advocating for Garcia’s release, emphasizing the need to rectify the acknowledged mistake of his deportation.
Van Hollen shared his visit to El Salvador with a photo but offered no update on Garcia’s status. He contacted Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, conveying a message of support, and promised a detailed briefing upon his return. Vasquez Sura expressed their enduring uncertainty and concern in a statement through an advocacy group.
President Trump, initially distancing himself from the matter, recently labeled Garcia as “unbelievably bad,” describing him as an “illegal alien” and a “foreign terrorist.” The president’s social media remarks included criticism of Van Hollen’s efforts in El Salvador.
Several members of Congress have also engaged in this issue, with House Republicans visiting the Salvadoran prison to support the Trump administration’s stance. Representative Riley Moore from West Virginia expressed renewed resolve to support the president’s policies following his visit.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acknowledged Garcia’s deportation as an “administrative error,” prompting outcry from immigration advocates. Despite this, the administration maintains its allegations of Garcia’s gang affiliation. Legal battles continue, with the judiciary demanding more transparency from the government regarding its plans, if any, for Garcia’s repatriation.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld demands for sworn testimonies from Trump administration officials, highlighting concerns over the executive branch’s perceived lawlessness. Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III expressed hope that the rule of law remains integral to the American ethos.
Since March, El Salvador has accepted over 200 Venezuelan immigrants deported from the U.S., accused by the administration of gang and violent criminal activities, placing them in the same high-security facility as Garcia.