San Salvador Times
The Pulse of El Salvador’s Transformation
Saturday, Apr 26, 2025
San Salvador Times
US Senator Meets with Deported Immigrant in El Salvador Amid Custody Dispute
Senator Chris Van Hollen meets with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported immigrant from Maryland, after being initially denied access, as El Salvador says Garcia will remain in custody
US Senator Chris Van Hollen has met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old immigrant from Maryland who was deported to El Salvador last month.
The meeting took place on Thursday night, after the senator was initially denied access to Garcia at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison.
Garcia's deportation has been deemed an administrative error by officials, and both a federal court and the Supreme Court have ordered the US government to facilitate his release and return to the US for proper deportation proceedings.
The Trump administration has contested this, with some officials claiming Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang.
Senator Van Hollen announced his intention to visit Garcia earlier in the week, and other Democratic lawmakers had also planned to visit him.
However, when Van Hollen arrived in El Salvador, he was met with resistance from authorities, who initially denied him access to Garcia.
The senator eventually met with Vice President Félix Augusto Antonio Ulloa Garay, but was told that he would need to make earlier provisions to visit CECOT.
Images of the meeting between Van Hollen and Garcia have been shared, showing the two men shaking hands and sitting at a table together.
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has stated that Garcia will remain in the country's custody, despite the court orders.
A federal appeals court has denied the Trump administration's emergency request to block a judge's order requiring the US government to return Garcia to the US. The court described the request as 'extraordinary and premature'.
Meanwhile, documents have been released alleging that Garcia has a history of domestic violence, with his wife accusing him of repeated abuse.
The Department of Homeland Security has also released documents claiming that Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang.
The meeting took place on Thursday night, after the senator was initially denied access to Garcia at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison.
Garcia's deportation has been deemed an administrative error by officials, and both a federal court and the Supreme Court have ordered the US government to facilitate his release and return to the US for proper deportation proceedings.
The Trump administration has contested this, with some officials claiming Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang.
Senator Van Hollen announced his intention to visit Garcia earlier in the week, and other Democratic lawmakers had also planned to visit him.
However, when Van Hollen arrived in El Salvador, he was met with resistance from authorities, who initially denied him access to Garcia.
The senator eventually met with Vice President Félix Augusto Antonio Ulloa Garay, but was told that he would need to make earlier provisions to visit CECOT.
Images of the meeting between Van Hollen and Garcia have been shared, showing the two men shaking hands and sitting at a table together.
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has stated that Garcia will remain in the country's custody, despite the court orders.
A federal appeals court has denied the Trump administration's emergency request to block a judge's order requiring the US government to return Garcia to the US. The court described the request as 'extraordinary and premature'.
Meanwhile, documents have been released alleging that Garcia has a history of domestic violence, with his wife accusing him of repeated abuse.
The Department of Homeland Security has also released documents claiming that Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang.
