Senator Chris Van Hollen's meeting with Kilmar Ábrego García, an erroneously deported man, collides with various political tensions, including allegations of gang ties and immigration policy disputes.
US Senator Advocates for Man Wrongly Deported to El Salvador Amid Controversy
US Senator Advocates for Man Wrongly Deported to El Salvador Amid Controversy
A Maryland senator meets with a deportee who was sent back to El Salvador in error, igniting a battle between the US and Salvadoran governments.
A US senator, Chris Van Hollen from Maryland, recently had a significant meeting with Kilmar Ábrego García, a man who was mistakenly deported to a maximum-security prison, Cecot, in El Salvador by the Trump administration. Van Hollen shared photos from their encounter on social media and revealed that he conveyed a message of love from Mr. Ábrego García to his wife, Jennifer. Despite a federal judge ordering his return to the US, the deportee remains in El Salvador’s custody, with President Nayib Bukele denying any release and claiming the man was a member of MS-13, a gang considered a foreign terrorist organization by the US.
During his visit, Senator Van Hollen faced armed guards who stopped him on his way to meet Garcia, illustrating the tense atmosphere surrounding the case. The senator has been vocal about seeking Garcia's release, emphasizing the urgent need to address this wrongful deportation. Meanwhile, President Bukele posted the senator's photos online, seemingly ridiculing the concerns raised about Garcia's detention. He noted that since Garcia is "confirmed healthy," he would remain imprisoned, dismissing allegations of harsh treatment in El Salvador.
Initially living in Maryland, Ábrego García was deported on March 15 alongside other Salvadorans and Venezuelans. Judge Paula Xinis ruled that his removal violated a court order from 2019 that provided him legal protection from deportation. The situation escalated following a recent Supreme Court ruling mandating the Trump administration assist in facilitating his release. While Trump's camp viewed the deportation as fulfilling campaign promises of safety, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt firmly stated that García would "never live in the United States of America," amid heated discussions about immigration and justice in both nations.
