WASHINGTON — Senator Chris Van Hollen has issued a scathing rebuke of President Donald Trump and El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele for their refusal to return Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father illegally deported to a Salvadoran mega-prison despite a unanimous Supreme Court ruling. Speaking on CNN, Van Hollen called their stance “unsustainable” and warned of dire consequences if due process continues to be ignored.
Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant legally residing in Maryland since 2011 under protected status, was deported on March 15, 2025, to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot). A 2019 immigration court ruling had barred his removal due to death threats from the Barrio 18 gang over his family’s pupusa business. ICE arrested him in March, citing an “administrative error”—later admitted by the Trump administration in court—before deporting him under a $6 million U.S.-El Salvador deal to detain deportees.
The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 on April 10 that the Trump administration must facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return, following a district court order deeming his deportation illegal. Yet, during a White House meeting on April 15, Bukele smeared Abrego Garcia as a “terrorist” and refused to release him, while Trump’s team claimed limited authority to act. Van Hollen dismissed these excuses, noting the U.S.’s financial leverage over the prison and Bukele’s clear ability to comply. “Both things are untrue,” he said, accusing the leaders of shredding constitutional protections.
Abrego Garcia’s case has sparked outrage in Maryland, where he lived with his U.S. citizen wife and three children. Advocates argue his rights were violated, while protests demand his return. Van Hollen emphasized the broader stakes: “If the president gets to ignore the Supreme Court in this case, it’s a short path to ignoring court orders in others. Every American should care about this.” He has threatened to travel to El Salvador to negotiate if Bukele doesn’t act and supports the RESCUE Act, which could suspend aid to non-compliant countries.
The controversy highlights tensions in U.S.-El Salvador relations, with Democrats leveraging the $6 million prison deal to pressure Bukele. On X, reactions are polarized—some see Trump and Bukele as defying justice, while others back their hardline stance, citing unproven gang allegations. As the administration considers an appeal, Abrego Garcia’s fate remains uncertain, but Van Hollen’s warning resonates: unchecked executive power could endanger rights for all.
