US Senator Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador on Thursday, after the US Supreme Court ordered Trump’s administration to facilitate Garcia’s return to the United States, underlining the growing tensions between the judiciary and the judiciary.
The Democratic Senator from Maryland, where Abrego Garcia had lived, published an image on X with the 29 -year -old, who was deported to what the court found a managerial mistake. The meeting came one day after Van Hollen refused to access the prison where Garcia had taken place.
“I said that my main goal for this trip (to El Salvador) was to meet Kilmar, I had this opportunity tonight,” Van Hollen said, without commenting on Garcia’s situation.
I said my main goal was to meet Kilmar. Tonight I had this opportunity. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along the message of love. I look forward to giving a full update on my return. pic.twitter.com/u9y2GZPXCB
– Senator Chris Van Hollen (@chrisvanhollen) April 18 2025
He added that she had spoken to Garcia’s husband to get a message from him and would share a complete update on the US.
Garcia was deported by order that the US Supreme Court later found illegal. Justice Sonia Sotomayor noted that there was no legal basis for its arrest, expulsion or detention.
Although Trump’s administration has recognized the error, it has not taken steps for Garcia to return. Officials reported the lack of power to release someone from a foreign prison, raising concerns about the possible constitutional disobedience.
White House Deputy Secretary Kush Desai reiterated the government’s demand-without providing evidence-that Garcia is connected to the MS-13 gang.
“Chris Van Hollen has firmly established the Democrats as a party whose top priority is the prosperity of an illegal alien terrorist MS-13,” Desai said in a statement. “President Trump will continue to stand on the side of Americans who adhere to the law.”
Former Ice Tom Homan director also told CNN that Garcia should remain a prisoner. “He is a citizen of El Salvador and he is in El Salvador, he is home,” Homan said.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was illegally abducted and held in an infamous prison in El Salvador – forbidden to get in touch with his family or lawyers.
I am talking to the press now, after refusing us to access prison to control his situation. I find Radi Station:
– Senator Chris Van Hollen (@chrisvanhollen) April 17 2025
Responding to expulsion, US judge James Boasberg warned of administration officials that they could deal with accusations of contempt, accusing them of “voluntary ignorance” for an order on March 15 that prohibits such remotely by law.
Garcia’s lawyers deny all allegations of a criminal relationship and say he has never been accused or convicted. They said that he left El Salvador at the age of 16 to escape the violence of gangs and had lived in the US with a protective class since 2019.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, who met Trump at the White House earlier this week, did not show the intention of returning Garcia. “Now that he has been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in charge of El Salvador,” Bukele said in social media after his own meeting with Van Hollen.
The circumstances that allow Van Hollen to access to Garcia remain unclear after previous denials by Salvador officials, including Vice President Felix Ulloa.
Representatives for both Garcia and Van Hollen have not answered further questions about the meeting.
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