BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) traveled to El Salvador on April 16, 2025, to advocate for the release of his constituent, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who was mistakenly deported by the Trump administration in March 2025. Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national legally living in the U.S. with a 2019 court order prohibiting his deportation due to fear of persecution, was sent to El Salvador’s notorious Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), a maximum-security prison. The deportation was admitted by U.S. officials as an "administrative error," and federal courts, including a unanimous Supreme Court ruling, ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his return. Van Hollen aimed to check on Abrego Garcia’s condition, meet with Salvadoran officials to secure his release, and signal that the U.S. would continue pressing for his return, citing concerns over due process and the rule of law. He had previously requested a meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele during Bukele’s U.S. visit but received no response, prompting the trip.
Events and Outcome:
Arrival and Objectives: Van Hollen arrived in San Salvador on April 16, 2025, and expressed hope to meet with U.S. embassy staff, Salvadoran officials, and Abrego Garcia himself. He emphasized the illegal nature of the deportation and the need to bring Abrego Garcia home to his family.
Meeting with Vice President: Van Hollen met with El Salvador’s Vice President Félix Ulloa but was denied access to Abrego Garcia, either in person or by phone, and was told that earlier provisions were needed to visit CECOT. Ulloa also refused to arrange a call between Abrego Garcia and his family unless requested by the U.S. embassy. Van Hollen reported Ulloa’s claim that the Trump administration was paying El Salvador to detain Abrego Garcia, a statement that lacked immediate corroboration from the White House or Department of Homeland Security.
Press Conference: At a press conference in San Salvador, Van Hollen condemned the detention as “unjust and illegal,” noting that neither U.S. nor Salvadoran authorities had evidence of Abrego Garcia’s alleged MS-13 gang affiliation, a claim pushed by Trump officials despite no charges or convictions. He vowed to continue advocating, stating, “There will be more members of Congress coming,” and suggested other lawmakers might follow.
Challenges and Criticism: Salvadoran officials, including Bukele, resisted releasing Abrego Garcia, with Bukele previously stating he would not “smuggle” him back to the U.S. The Trump administration, including officials like Tom Homan and Karoline Leavitt, criticized Van Hollen’s trip, falsely labeling Abrego Garcia an MS-13 “terrorist” and accusing the senator of neglecting Maryland constituents. Van Hollen countered that these claims were baseless and highlighted the administration’s defiance of court orders.
Outcome: Van Hollen was unable to secure Abrego Garcia’s release or visit him during the trip. He pledged to keep pressing both governments, work with the U.S. embassy, and potentially involve more lawmakers. The situation remained unresolved, with El Salvador citing logistical barriers and the Trump administration arguing it lacked authority to force Abrego Garcia’s release, despite court mandates.
Context and Significance:
Van Hollen framed the case as a test of the rule of law, warning of a “constitutional crisis” due to the Trump administration’s refusal to comply with judicial orders. The trip drew attention to Abrego Garcia’s plight and highlighted tensions between U.S. and Salvadoran policies, particularly Bukele’s alignment with Trump’s deportation agenda, reportedly supported by payments to detain deportees. Posts on X reflected polarized sentiment, with some praising Van Hollen’s advocacy and others echoing Trump administration narratives about Abrego Garcia’s alleged criminality, though these claims lacked evidence
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