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SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (Reuters) – Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen arrived in El Salvador on Wednesday morning with the intention of meeting high-ranking officials from the Central American nation to advocate for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran individual who was mistakenly deported and is currently imprisoned in a facility known for its harsh conditions.
“I just reached San Salvador and am eager to connect with the U.S. Embassy team regarding Mr. Abrego Garcia’s situation,” stated Van Hollen, a Maryland senator and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a post on his social media platform X.
He added, “I have assured his family that I will make every effort to secure his return, and my work towards that goal will persist until we are successful.”
The El Salvador government has yet to comment on Senator Van Hollen’s visit or the ongoing situation surrounding Abrego Garcia.
This development follows the U.S. government’s acknowledgment of Abrego Garcia’s deportation occurring due to an “administrative error.” Subsequently, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ruling by Judge Paula Xinis directing authorities to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S.
During a recent meeting with President Donald Trump, El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, stated he had no intention of allowing Abrego Garcia to return. Earlier that day, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security indicated in a court document that it lacked the authority to forcibly repatriate Abrego Garcia.
On Tuesday, Judge Xinis mentioned that, while she would not immediately hold the administration in contempt of court, there appeared to be a lack of effort from the Trump administration to recover Abrego Garcia. She expressed her intolerance for any “gamesmanship or grandstanding” in the situation.
In addition to Abrego Garcia, the Trump administration has deported numerous individuals, primarily Venezuelans, labeling them as gang members under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 without presenting adequate evidence or providing trials. Details regarding those detained remain undisclosed, and detainees have reportedly not had access to legal representation or contact with the outside world since their incarceration.
In March, a federal judge indicated that flights transporting migrants prosecuted under the Alien Enemies Act should return to the United States. In response, Bukele posted on X, suggesting it was already too late, accompanied by images of individuals being hastily removed from a plane.
On Wednesday, a federal judge stated that officials from the Trump administration might face criminal charges for contempt of court due to violations of an order to halt the deportations of Venezuelan migrants governed by the Alien Enemies Act.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, now 29, left El Salvador at the age of 16 to escape pervasive gang violence. He was granted a protective order in 2019 to remain in the United States and has never faced criminal charges, according to his legal representation, who have refuted claims made by the Justice Department that he is affiliated with the criminal gang MS-13.
Later on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was scheduled to meet with El Salvador’s Minister of National Defense, Rene Merino, at the Pentagon to further discuss cooperation between the two nations.
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