Senator Successfully Meets Deported Maryland Man Amid Legal Controversy

EL SALVADOR – U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident deported to El Salvador last month, after overcoming challenges to secure an audience with him. The meeting took place Thursday amid a backdrop of legal disputes surrounding Garcia’s deportation, which the Trump administration admitted was an error.

Garcia, identified as a member of the MS-13 gang by U.S. officials, was sent to a maximum-security facility, the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), following his deportation. However, both federal and Supreme Court rulings have mandated the government to facilitate Garcia’s return due to procedural irregularities in his removal.

“I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar,” Van Hollen tweeted after their meeting. “Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love.” The senator had expressed urgency to check on Garcia’s well-being amidst allegations of previous abuse against his wife.

Initially, Van Hollen’s request to meet Garcia was denied, even after he met with El Salvador’s Vice President Félix Ulloa Garay. Van Hollen reported that Ulloa indicated a need for pre-scheduled arrangements to visit CECOT. “I asked the vice president if I could meet with Mr. Abrego Garcia, and he said, ‘You need to make earlier provisions,’” Van Hollen recounted.

Despite these hurdles, Van Hollen secured a meeting after persistent advocacy. Photographs released from their encounter showed the two conversing in a tropical setting, with Van Hollen’s office confirming their discussion centered around Garcia’s well-being.

Meanwhile, legal battles intensified as a federal appeals court denied a request from the Trump administration to block a judge’s order mandating the U.S. facilitate Garcia’s return. Judge Harvie Wilkinson noted the government’s stance was “extraordinary and premature” given the procedural contexts that led to Garcia’s deportation.

“We were there for one simple reason: to check on his well-being, which his family and lawyers have not been allowed to do,” Van Hollen asserted via Twitter. “We won’t stop fighting.”

Following the meeting, President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador remarked on social media about Garcia’s health and his continued custody in El Salvador. He characterized Garcia’s ongoing detention with sarcasm, stating, “Now that he’s been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvador’s custody.”

The case has attracted significant attention in both countries not only due to the legal implications but also because of the concerns over due process rights. A federal judge previously ruled that Garcia’s removal violated a 2019 order shielding him from deportation.

In response to inquiries regarding gang affiliations, Garcia’s attorney has strongly denied any connections to MS-13, emphasizing that their client has never been formally charged or convicted of any related crimes.

In a broader context, the U.S. government had previously facilitated deportations of individuals identified as gang members to combat crime, but the circumstances surrounding Garcia’s case have drawn scrutiny amid accusations of administrative errors.

Van Hollen indicated he would provide a comprehensive update on his findings after his return to the U.S., while advocates remain hopeful for Garcia’s prompt return.