SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) touched down in San Salvador on Wednesday, April 17, 2025, vowing to press for the release of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident illegally deported to a notorious Salvadoran prison. The trip marks a bold escalation in the battle against the Trump administration’s defiance of court orders, raising questions about the rule of law and U.S.-El Salvador relations.
Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old father with legal protected status since 2019, was deported on March 15 after an ICE arrest the Trump administration later admitted was an “administrative error.” A 2019 court order had barred his removal due to gang threats against his family’s pupusa business, yet he now languishes in the Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot), a facility funded by a $6 million U.S. deal and known for human rights abuses. Despite a unanimous Supreme Court ruling on April 10 ordering his return, both President Donald Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele have refused, with Bukele falsely labeling him a “terrorist.” [Ref web ID: 2] [Ref web ID: 7]
In a video from the airport, Van Hollen expressed hope to meet embassy staff and Salvadoran officials, stating, “I told his family I would do everything possible to bring him home.” He also aims to check on Abrego Garcia’s condition, though access remains uncertain. The senator framed the deportation as a “miscarriage of justice,” warning that ignoring due process paves the way to tyranny—a stance echoed by protests in Maryland. [Ref web ID: 0] [Ref web ID: 15]
The trip follows Van Hollen’s unanswered request to meet Bukele during his U.S. visit, prompting this diplomatic intervention. Trump officials, including Border Czar Tom Homan, have slammed the mission, renewing unproven MS-13 claims, while Bukele insists he lacks authority to act. Critics question this narrative, noting the U.S. financial leverage over Cecot. [Ref web ID: 1] [Ref web ID: 10]
On X, reactions split sharply—some praise Van Hollen’s resolve, while others decry it as meddling for a supposed gang member. The State Department confirmed Abrego Garcia is “alive and secure,” but his family fears for his safety amid reports of prison brutality. Van Hollen’s mission could pressure El Salvador, especially if Congress leverages the administration’s budget, though Bukele’s alignment with Trump suggests resistance. [Ref web ID: 14] [Ref web ID: 19]
This standoff tests the limits of executive power and international accountability, with Van Hollen’s actions signaling a rare congressional pushback against a policy critics call authoritarian.
