WASHINGTON — Senator Chris Van Hollen and other Democratic lawmakers are considering a trip to El Salvador to secure the release of a man mistakenly deported to the country by the Justice Department. This initiative gained momentum after El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele stated during a recent White House meeting that the man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, would not be sent back to the U.S. In a letter to El Salvador’s ambassador, Van Hollen requested a meeting with President Bukele, expressing his intention to travel to El Salvador during the week to address the situation if Abrego Garcia remains in the country. Several Democratic lawmakers have voiced their support for the trip, with Rep. Maxwell Frost offering to join Van Hollen in an effort to demand Abrego Garcia’s release.
The push to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. stemmed from the Justice Department’s acknowledgment that he should not have been deported to El Salvador due to a prior immigration judge’s order preventing his removal to that country out of concern for potential persecution. The Supreme Court’s recent decision instructed the administration to facilitate his return. Despite the Trump administration’s contention that the situation is now beyond their control as Abrego Garcia is in the custody of another nation, efforts continue to bring him back to the U.S.
During President Bukele’s visit to the White House, he dismissed the idea of returning Abrego Garcia, questioning how he could send him back without it being considered illegal. The Trump administration has not taken steps to advocate for Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S., as the President has emphasized his administration’s policy of deporting alleged gang members to El Salvador. Van Hollen remains hopeful that President Bukele will reconsider the situation once fully informed of the circumstances surrounding Abrego Garcia’s detention.
Following the White House meeting, Van Hollen disclosed that his request to meet with President Bukele had been received by the Salvadoran embassy, although no response had been received yet. He reiterated his intention to travel to El Salvador this week to secure a meeting with the president or other government officials if necessary, emphasizing the urgency of addressing what he deems an unjust and illegal detention of a Maryland resident in a notorious prison in El Salvador. In a separate but related development, President Trump mentioned the possibility of deporting U.S. citizens, a proposal met with criticism from immigration advocates and legal experts who argue its illegality and unconstitutionality.