Fri Apr 18 23:32:16 UTC 2025: **Senator Van Hollen’s Trip to El Salvador Fails to Secure Release of Wrongfully Deportated Man**

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2025 – Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) returned Friday from a three-day trip to El Salvador, where he attempted to secure the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man wrongfully deported by the Trump administration. Despite a meeting with Abrego Garcia, who confirmed a transfer to a less harsh detention facility, his release remains uncertain.

Abrego Garcia, deported despite court orders, was initially held at CECOT, El Salvador’s maximum-security prison, as an alleged MS-13 gang member. However, the U.S. government has acknowledged the deportation was an “administrative error,” a claim dismissed by the White House, which maintains he is a gang member despite lacking any related charges.

Senator Van Hollen denounced the Trump administration’s actions as a blatant disregard for the American judicial system and a violation of constitutional rights. He highlighted Abrego Garcia’s account of harsh conditions at CECOT, before his transfer, and the staged nature of the meeting orchestrated by the Salvadoran government, complete with suspiciously garnished drinks.

The case has become a major partisan flashpoint. Democrats accuse President Trump of overstepping executive authority, while Republicans defend the administration’s actions, portraying Abrego Garcia as a gang member. President Trump himself called Abrego Garcia an “illegal alien” and “foreign terrorist,” and mocked Senator Van Hollen on social media.

Despite further Democratic efforts and a Supreme Court order to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return, both President Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele remain adamant about keeping him in El Salvador. The White House press secretary has stated that Abrego Garcia will “never live in the United States of America again.”

A 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel refused to suspend a judge’s order for sworn testimony from Trump administration officials, underscoring the judicial system’s concern over executive branch actions. The escalating conflict reflects the broader immigration debate and the ongoing struggle between the legislative and executive branches.

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