A Senate Democrat announced plans to travel to El Salvador later this week if an alleged MS-13 gang member, who was detained last month in...
A Senate Democrat announced plans to travel to El Salvador later this week if an alleged MS-13 gang member, who was detained last month in Maryland, deported, and imprisoned in his home country, is not returned to the United States.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) issued the statement on Monday as an ultimatum, expressing his desire to speak with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, who is currently in Washington, D.C., to meet with President Donald Trump.
“Kilmar Abrego Garcia never should have been abducted and illegally deported, and the courts have made clear: the Administration must bring him home, now,” Van Hollen said. “However, since the Trump Administration appears to be ignoring these court mandates, we need to take additional action.”
He continued, “That’s why I’ve requested to meet with President Bukele during his trip to the United States, and — if Kilmar is not home by midweek — I plan to travel to El Salvador this week to check on his condition and discuss his release.”
The Trump administration has accused Garcia, who illegally entered the United States but got permission to stay in 2019, of being an MS-13 gang member. Garcia’s attorneys have reportedly denied there is evidence of such a claim. The Supreme Court issued a ruling last week that said the government must “facilitate,” but not necessarily “effectuate,” Garcia’s return amid a legal battle.
On Monday, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller dismissed claims that Garcia was deported by mistake and contended that the withholding order the suspect received six years ago is no longer valid because the Trump administration has designated MS-13 as a foreign terror organization.
While meeting Trump at the White House on Monday, Bukele said that he would not send Garcia back. “How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States?” Bukele said to reporters, adding, “I don’t have the power to return him.”
Van Hollen also revealed on Monday that he sent a letter to El Salvador’s U.S. ambassador, Milena Mayorga, “urgently” requesting a meeting with Bukele.
The Democrat senator faced some blowback from the GOP for his efforts.
“Young girls are being abused, Americans are being killed, and our communities are being overrun by illegals — and Democrats like Chris Van Hollen are busy fighting for people who shouldn’t even be here while ignoring the needs of real Americans,” Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) said in a post on X, adding, “Disgraceful!”