This week, Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador in a bid to see his constituent, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, and to advocate for his release. Abrego Garcia's illegal deportation has ignited significant outrage and has led to an escalating legal battle in the United States. However, despite Van Hollen's efforts, the government of El Salvador declined his requests for a meeting and a visit with Abrego Garcia.
Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old Salvadoran citizen, lived and worked legally in Maryland for approximately 15 years. Last month, he was wrongfully deported to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador, known as CECOT. This deportation occurred despite a prior ruling by a judge that granted him protections due to safety concerns upon his return to El Salvador.
The U.S. Supreme Court has mandated that the Trump administration facilitate Abrego Garcia's return to the United States, an order that has yet to be acted upon. During a recent meeting at the White House, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele dismissed the idea of returning Abrego Garcia, labeling the request as "preposterous."
Motivated by this situation, Senator Van Hollen is actively campaigning for Abrego Garcia's release. He expressed his commitment to ensuring that both the Trump administration and the government of El Salvador understand the urgency of bringing Abrego Garcia back to his family. "We are going to keep fighting because this is a miscarriage of justice," Van Hollen stated at the airport.
Abrego Garcia has been accused by the U.S. of being affiliated with the transnational gang MS-13, which the Trump administration has classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. However, Abrego Garcia's lawyers assert that he is not a gang member and has no criminal record. After meeting with El Salvador's Vice President, Félix Ulloa, Van Hollen reported that the Salvadoran government lacks evidence linking Abrego Garcia to gang activities and stated that he remains in custody due to payments from the Trump administration to keep him in CECOT.
Van Hollen expressed his desire to meet Abrego Garcia in person to provide updates to his family. However, Ulloa informed him that prior arrangements were necessary for such a visit. Despite Van Hollen's insistence that he only wanted to meet with Abrego Garcia and not tour the facility, Ulloa could not guarantee a meeting. Van Hollen plans to reach out to the American embassy to arrange a phone or video call with Abrego Garcia as part of his ongoing advocacy efforts.
On the same day Van Hollen was lobbying for Abrego Garcia, the White House reiterated its stance against the senator’s efforts. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that if Abrego Garcia were to return to the U.S., he would be immediately deported again. She criticized Van Hollen for potentially using taxpayer funds for his trip and accused Democrats of prioritizing the release of individuals like Abrego Garcia over enhancing border security.
Leavitt’s comments were supported by Maryland resident Patty Morin, who criticized Van Hollen for focusing on Abrego Garcia while not addressing the tragic murder of her daughter, Rachel, by a fugitive from El Salvador.
Senator Van Hollen is not the only member of Congress engaged with issues in El Salvador. Recently, two Republican representatives, Riley Moore from West Virginia and Jason Smith from Missouri, shared their experiences touring CECOT, praising Trump's deportation policies. Moore expressed renewed determination to support these efforts, while Smith criticized Democrats for their stance on foreign criminal releases.
Meanwhile, several House Democrats, including Robert Garcia from California, Maxwell Frost from Florida, and Delia Ramirez from Illinois, have requested authorization for a Congressional delegation to visit CECOT. They argue that such a visit would allow them to conduct a welfare check on Abrego Garcia and other inmates.
As the debate continues, the fate of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia remains uncertain, with advocates on both sides of the aisle pushing for their respective agendas.
