San Salvador, El Salvador – U.S. Representative Maxine Dexter (D-OR) declared on April 21, 2025, that she will not leave El Salvador until Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident wrongfully deported, is returned to the United States. Dexter, joined by Representatives Robert Garcia (D-CA), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), and Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), arrived in San Salvador on April 20 to pressure the Trump administration to comply with a Supreme Court order.
Abrego Garcia, 29, was deported to El Salvador on March 15, 2025, despite a 2019 withholding order prohibiting his removal due to gang threats. The Supreme Court’s April 7 ruling, reaffirmed on April 18, mandated his return, citing due process violations. The administration, claiming he is an MS-13 member, has resisted, despite admitting the deportation was an “administrative error.” Abrego Garcia, a 14-year U.S. resident with no criminal convictions, is married to a U.S. citizen and has three children with disabilities. He was initially held in El Salvador’s CECOT mega-prison before being moved to a detention center with better conditions, as noted by Senator Chris Van Hollen after meeting him on April 16.
Dexter, who personally funded the trip after House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer denied an official delegation, called the situation a “constitutional crisis.” In a video posted on X, she stated, “He is being held in violation of a Supreme Court order… Our president does not recognize the balances of power.” Her pledge to remain in El Salvador underscores her commitment to due process amid what Democrats see as executive overreach.
Reactions on X are divided. Supporters like
@saltlighttruth backed Dexter, saying, “Your terms are acceptable. Stay in El Salvador,” while critics like
@cethomas19 suggested she resign for “not showing up for work.” The White House, through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, insisted Abrego Garcia is “never coming back,” and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele called his release “preposterous,” likening it to aiding a terrorist.
Dexter’s stand highlights a growing divide over immigration and judicial authority, with the administration’s defiance of court orders raising broader constitutional concerns. As the delegation presses for action, the outcome could set a precedent for due process in deportation cases.
