U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen recently faced a setback in his efforts to assist Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man who was mistakenly deported from the United States. Van Hollen attempted to meet with Garcia, who is currently held in a dangerous prison in El Salvador, but was denied access by the country’s vice president, Félix Ulloa.
Garcia, a 29-year-old resident of Maryland and a father of three, was deported last month. Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed his frustration after the meeting in San Salvador. Ulloa informed him that Garcia would not be released because the U.S. government is financially supporting his incarceration, despite lacking evidence of any criminal activity or gang affiliation on Garcia’s part.
Van Hollen questioned why the U.S. government would pay for the imprisonment of someone who was illegally taken from the country. He emphasized that Garcia has not been charged with any crime and urged for his release.
The situation has drawn attention not only from Van Hollen but also from the U.S. Supreme Court, which recently ordered the government to facilitate Garcia’s return. Despite this ruling, the Trump administration and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele have claimed there is no justification for sending Garcia back, even after the Supreme Court’s call for action.
The court’s order came after a judge stated there was no evidence supporting claims that Garcia had ties to the MS-13 gang, a major concern raised by Trump administration officials. Garcia’s legal team has denied these allegations, asserting that he has never been charged with any crime related to gang activity.
In a press conference, Van Hollen described the situation as unjust and accused the Trump administration of misleading the public about Garcia’s case. He stated that the U.S. government should respect the rule of law and ensure that Garcia is treated fairly.
The controversy has sparked political tensions, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticizing Van Hollen’s visit to El Salvador. She reiterated claims that Garcia was involved with gangs and mentioned domestic abuse allegations against him, which were presented in court.
Adding to the complexity, some Republicans are also visiting the prison, supporting the administration’s stance. Representative Riley Moore from West Virginia recently visited the facility and expressed his determination to back Trump’s immigration policies.
During a recent conversation between Trump and Bukele, the Salvadoran president argued that it would be unreasonable to return someone he labeled as a terrorist. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has stated that the decision to return Garcia rests with El Salvador.
Before his deportation, Garcia had lived in the U.S. for 14 years after fleeing gang violence in El Salvador. He had been granted protection from deportation due to a fear of persecution but was wrongfully removed during a series of flights targeting alleged gang members.
As the situation unfolds, the legal and political battles surrounding Garcia’s case continue to raise questions about immigration policies and the treatment of individuals caught in complex legal circumstances.