Sen. Chris Van Hollen jetted to El Salvador on Wednesday to push for the discharge and return to the U.S. of mistakenly deported immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
The Maryland Democrat stated he hopes to see Garcia at a infamous megaprison to test on his well-being and press Salvadoran officers to ship him again stateside after the Supreme Courtroom ordered the U.S. authorities to “facilitate” his return.
“I look forward to meeting with the team at the U.S. embassy to discuss the release of Mr. Abrego Garcia,” Van Hollen tweeted after arriving within the capital of San Salvador. “I also hope to meet with Salvadoran officials and with Kilmar himself. He was illegally abducted and needs to come home.”
This undated picture supplied by Murray Osorio PLLC exhibits Kilmar Abrego Garcia. (Murray Osorio PLLC through AP)
It was not instantly clear if Salvadoran officers would meet with Van Hollen or permit him to go to Garcia on the jail, which is understood for strict safety and harsh circumstances.
The lawmaker’s journey comes a day after a federal choose once more rebuked the Trump administration for failing to take any steps to conform along with her order to carry Garcia again to the U.S.
District Courtroom Decide Paula Xinis ordered officers to testify beneath oath about what if any steps they’ve taken to “facilitate” Garcia’s return because the Supreme Courtroom ordered in a unanimous ruling.
Jennifer Vasquez Sura, the spouse of Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Maryland, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, speaks throughout a information convention at CASA’s Multicultural Middle in Hyattsville, Md., Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Picture/Jose Luis Magana)
The Trump administration says it considers the order to solely require it to confess Garcia if he exhibits up at a border crossing or maybe bodily transporting him, not pushing for his launch.
El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele stated he has no plans to launch or return Garcia throughout a chummy White Home assembly with Trump on Monday.
The U.S. has despatched Garcia together with a whole bunch of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador with none due course of, citing the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. It agreed to pay $6 million to imprison them for a 12 months.
Trump breezily informed Bukele he hopes to broaden this system to incorporate “homegrowns,” referring to convicted or alleged criminals who’re U.S. residents, though authorized specialists say that may be unconstitutional.
A U.S. immigration choose had shielded Garcia, 29, from deportation to El Salvador in 2019, ruling that he would probably face persecution there by native gangs who had terrorized his household. He additionally was given a federal allow to work in america, the place he was a steel employee and union member.
Administration officers described his deportation as “an administrative error” however insisted Garcia was a member of the MS-13 gang, with out offering proof.
