Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland recently traveled to El Salvador to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported immigrant. This visit came after Van Hollen had faced several obstacles in securing the meeting. Garcia, who is 29 years old, was deported last month and is currently held in a notorious prison known as the "Terrorism Confinement Center" (CECOT). His deportation was initially acknowledged as an administrative error, but some officials claim he is affiliated with the MS-13 gang.
Van Hollen announced his plans to visit Garcia earlier in the week and expressed that meeting him was a primary goal of his trip. After finally being granted access, he shared that he had spoken with Garcia’s wife, Jennifer, to relay a message from her husband. Van Hollen noted, “Tonight I had that chance. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return.”
The senator’s journey was not entirely straightforward. Upon arriving, he discovered that El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, was out of the country. Instead, he met with Vice President Félix Ulloa, who informed him that he needed to make prior arrangements to visit Garcia. Van Hollen insisted that he simply wanted to meet Garcia and was not interested in a tour of the facility.
Despite these challenges, Van Hollen continued to push for access to Garcia. He emphasized the importance of checking on Garcia’s well-being, stating that family and lawyers had been unable to do so. However, his attempts were initially blocked, leading to frustration.
Eventually, Van Hollen’s persistence paid off, and he was able to meet with Garcia. Photos from their meeting showed them seated together in a tropical setting. Bukele later made a post on social media, highlighting the meeting and suggesting that Garcia was in good health.
The legal situation surrounding Garcia remains complicated. A federal appeals court recently denied the Trump administration’s request to block a lower court’s order to facilitate Garcia’s return to the U.S. The court’s decision has sparked debate, especially given Garcia’s controversial background, which includes allegations of domestic violence and gang affiliation.
As the story continues to unfold, Van Hollen and other Democratic lawmakers are expected to keep advocating for Garcia’s case, raising questions about immigration policy and the treatment of deported individuals.