Senator Chris Van Hollen encountered resistance during his diplomatic mission to El Salvador.
According to the Washington Examiner, El Salvador's government denied the Maryland Democrat's request to visit or communicate with Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who was mistakenly deported by the Trump administration and is currently held in a high-security prison.
The denial came directly from Salvadoran Vice President Félix Ulloa during Van Hollen's Wednesday visit. Ulloa rejected multiple attempts by the senator to establish contact with Abrego Garcia, who is being detained at CECOT, a prison facility known for housing terrorists. The vice president also declined to guarantee future visitation rights or arrange phone communications.
The case has become a focal point in U.S. immigration politics after officials admitted to an "administrative error" in Abrego Garcia's deportation. Despite court mandates, including orders from the Supreme Court to facilitate his return, the administration maintains its position against bringing him back to the United States.
Van Hollen revealed during his press conference that Ulloa failed to produce evidence supporting claims that Abrego Garcia had ties to MS-13 or had committed any crimes. The senator also disclosed that the Trump administration is allegedly providing financial compensation to El Salvador to maintain Abrego Garcia's detention.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the administration's firm stance, declaring that Abrego Garcia would face immediate deportation if he ever returned to American soil.
The situation has intensified partisan disagreements about immigration policies. Republicans criticized Van Hollen's efforts, suggesting Democrats prioritize undocumented immigrants over American citizens' safety.
Van Hollen said during his press briefing:
I asked him if I came back next week, whether I'd be able to see Mr. Abrego Garcia. He said he couldn't promise that either. So, I asked him if I could get on the phone, either video phone or just a phone, and talk to Mr. Abrego Garcia so I could just ask him how he's doing, so I could report back to his family. He said he could not arrange that. He said maybe, if the American Embassy were to ask, maybe that could happen.
The White House countered Van Hollen's advocacy with a statement questioning his priorities and released testimony from Patti Morin, whose daughter was murdered by an undocumented immigrant. Morin expressed frustration over the senator's focus on Abrego Garcia's case.
President Nayib Bukele's absence during Van Hollen's visit added another layer of complexity to the diplomatic situation. The Salvadoran leader had previously met with President Trump in the Oval Office, where he stated his inability to either release Abrego Garcia or facilitate his return to the United States.
The U.S. Embassy's role remains limited, with Van Hollen noting they haven't received directives from the Trump administration regarding Abrego Garcia's release. This has created a diplomatic stalemate between the two nations.
Democratic lawmakers argue that responsibility lies with the Trump administration rather than El Salvador for the continued detention of Abrego Garcia, who had previously been granted legal status to work and live in the U.S. by a Maryland judge in 2019.
Senator Chris Van Hollen's attempted intervention in El Salvador highlights the complex case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, whose deportation has sparked intense debate between Democratic and Republican lawmakers. The Maryland senator's blocked attempt to visit or communicate with Abrego Garcia, who remains in El Salvador's CECOT prison, underscores the challenging diplomatic situation between the two countries. The Trump administration maintains its position against Abrego Garcia's return while allegedly providing financial support to El Salvador for his continued detention.
