On Thursday, Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland stated that he met with the wrongfully deported immigrant, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, in El Salvador. Van Hollen had been in the country for two days, advocating for the release and return of the Salvadoran citizen who had been deported back a month ago.
Garcia had been residing in Maryland before being deported. Van Hollen posted a photo on social media showing him having a conversation with Abrego Garcia in what appeared to be a restaurant. However, it’s unclear how the meeting was arranged, where exactly they met, and Van Hollen did not provide further information on Abrego Garcia’s current situation.
In a post on the platform, Van Hollen wrote, “I’ve said that the main goal of my trip is to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I’ve called his wife Jennifer to convey his love to her. I look forward to providing detailed updates once I return home.”
Moments before Van Hollen posted the message, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele released several photos of the meeting, stating, “Since he has been confirmed to be in good health, he will have the privilege of remaining under Salvadoran custody.”
After visiting the White House on Monday, Bukele stated that he rejected the appeals to release Abrego Garcia and send him back to the U.S.
Van Hollen arrived in El Salvador on Wednesday morning and shortly after met with Salvadoran Vice President Félix Ulloa. The Vice President informed him that the Salvadoran government cannot send Abrego Garcia back to the U.S.
Additionally, Van Hollen mentioned that Salvadoran authorities denied him entry to the Counterterrorism Detention Center where Abrego Garcia is held. He requested to speak with Abrego Garcia, either in person or through video/audio communication, but was initially refused.
Abrego Garcia is a Salvadoran citizen who entered the U.S. in 2011. According to his lawyer, in 2019, a confidential informant informed U.S. authorities that Abrego Garcia was a member of the MS-13 gang. However, Abrego Garcia later applied for asylum with the U.S. immigration authorities and received a work permit. His wife and a five-year-old child are both U.S. citizens.
In mid-March of this year, the Trump administration deported hundreds of immigrants deemed members of the Venezuelan gang “Tren de Aragua” to a prison in El Salvador under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. The Trump administration later acknowledged the “administrative error” in the identification of Abrego Garcia but accused him of being an MS-13 member and refused to comply with a U.S. district judge’s order to “assist” in his return to the U.S.
On Friday morning, Trump responded to Van Hollen’s meeting with Abrego Garcia on his social media platform “Truth Social.” He stated that the U.S. senator was seeking attention from the “fake news media” or others.