Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, is traveling to El Salvador on Wednesday to advocate for the release of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant and Maryland resident who was mistakenly deported by the Trump administration. Mr. Abrego Garcia remains imprisoned in El Salvador despite a federal court order mandating his return to the United States.
Mr. Abrego Garcia was removed from the U.S. last month in an acknowledged error by immigration officials. Although the Supreme Court has directed the government to facilitate his return, both U.S. and Salvadoran authorities have not complied with this order.
During his visit, Mr. Van Hollen plans to meet with Mr. Abrego Garcia at the maximum security prison known as CECOT, located about an hour from the Salvadoran capital. The senator aims to discuss securing Mr. Abrego Garcia's release with Salvadoran officials.
“Following his abduction and unlawful deportation, U.S. federal courts have ordered the safe return of my constituent Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States,” Mr. Van Hollen stated prior to his departure. “It should be a priority of the U.S. government to secure his safe release.”
This trip follows a recent visit by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele to Washington, D.C., where he met with Mr. Trump. Mr. Van Hollen had sought a meeting with Mr. Bukele during this visit but did not receive a response.
During the meeting, Mr. Bukele expressed no intention of releasing Mr. Abrego Garcia, while Mr. Trump claimed he was unable to facilitate his return. Mr. Van Hollen expressed concern over these statements and chose to travel to El Salvador himself.
“The goal of this mission is to let the Trump administration and the government of El Salvador know that we are going to keep fighting to bring Abrego Garcia home,” he said in a video posted on social media before his flight.
On Wednesday, the Trump administration maintained its stance, continuing to defy the court order to facilitate Mr. Abrego Garcia's return. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that Mr. Abrego Garcia would not be repatriated unless the president of El Salvador agreed to send him back. She added that even if that occurred, he would be deported again to another country.
“President Bukele said he was not sending him back,” Bondi remarked. “That’s the end of the story.” She emphasized that Mr. Abrego Garcia is “from El Salvador, he’s in El Salvador and that’s where the president plans on keeping him.”
With Congress currently in a two-week recess, Representatives Maxwell Alejandro Frost of Florida and Robert Garcia of California are also planning to visit El Salvador. They have requested an official congressional delegation to conduct a “welfare check” on Mr. Abrego Garcia.
Mr. Frost and Mr. Garcia have called for increased oversight, particularly in light of Mr. Trump’s recent comments about wanting to send “homegrown criminals,” including American citizens, to the prison where Mr. Abrego Garcia is held, a facility known for human rights violations.