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Washington — Senator Chris Van Hollen made headlines on Sunday as he described El Salvador’s efforts to block him from visiting Kilmar Abrego Garcia, only for the government to reverse course shortly after. Speaking on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Van Hollen expressed that the Salvadoran officials likely realized their actions were not serving them well in the public eye.
Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old from El Salvador who had resided in Maryland, was deported to El Salvador’s CECOT prison last month — an action that the White House later acknowledged was a mistake. This incident has gained attention amid escalating tensions between the federal judiciary and the Trump administration’s aggressive approach to immigration enforcement.
On his recent trip to El Salvador, Van Hollen eventually met with Abrego Garcia after a series of denied requests for access. The senator held multiple press conferences, emphasizing that the government’s refusal to allow him to meet with Abrego Garcia constituted a violation of international law.
After gaining permission to meet, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele was quick to announce the meeting on social media. He posted images of the encounter, suggesting that Abrego Garcia was enjoying himself in a tropical setting, something Van Hollen later challenged. The senator noted the staged nature of the photos, highlighting that the drinks presented during the meeting went untouched. He remarked on the government’s attempts to project a misleading image of Abrego Garcia’s situation, indicating that the reality stands in stark contrast to their portrayal.
Having entered the United States illegally in 2011, Abrego Garcia was arrested in 2019. Following his release, an immigration judge granted him a legal status that protects him from being sent back to El Salvador, which has become the focal point of ongoing legal disputes.
Following his meeting with Van Hollen, Abrego Garcia was transferred from the CECOT facility to a different location in Santa Ana. Officials from the Trump administration later characterized his deportation as an administrative oversight. Ongoing legal battles have ensued regarding Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S., with a federal court recently ordering the government to facilitate his return. However, the Supreme Court specified that while the government must act, the parameters of such actions need clarification.
Meanwhile, both the White House and President Bukele have signaled a reluctance to follow these judicial orders, despite the Trump administration’s claims linking Abrego Garcia to the gang MS-13. Van Hollen has called for the government to substantiate these allegations in court, urging them to cease their social media commentary and focus on the legal proceedings instead.
Van Hollen clarified that his visit was not about contesting the legal intricacies of Abrego Garcia’s case but rather ensuring his safety and well-being. Nonetheless, he stressed the broader implications of the situation, arguing that violations of one individual’s constitutional rights reflect on the rights afforded to all Americans.
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