Senator Van Hollen's efforts highlight the complexities of U.S. immigration policy and judicial authority.
Senator Chris Van Hollen Engages with Mistakenly Deported Man in El Salvador
Senator Chris Van Hollen Engages with Mistakenly Deported Man in El Salvador
Maryland Senator advocates for the return of Kilmar Ábrego García after wrongful deportation linked to MS-13 allegations.
A U.S. senator has taken action to support a wrongfully deported man, Kilmar Ábrego García, who was mistakenly sent from Maryland to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen met with Ábrego García, sharing photos of their discussion on social media. The incident, acknowledged as an error by Trump administration officials, has attracted significant political attention as federal courts ordered the man's return to the U.S., a request that is currently being denied by El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele.
Despite a federal judge's ruling against the deportation, the administration maintains allegations of Ábrego García’s ties to the notorious MS-13 gang, which his legal representation firmly disputes. During his visit, Senator Van Hollen expressed his commitment to advocating for Ábrego García's release from the El Salvador facility known as Cecot, known for housing gang-related detainees.
In a statement, Van Hollen revealed he had communicated with Ábrego García's wife to relay messages of support and ensured that the purpose of his visit was focused solely on him. However, President Bukele challenged the senator's concerns over the well-being of Ábrego García, humorously dismissing them while asserting his decision to keep him in custody.
The deportee was transferred alongside many others on March 15, violating a legal protection he had secured against deportation due to a 2019 court order. The Maryland judge, Paula Xinis, alongside the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent affirmation, points toward significant contradictions within the current immigration policy movement, reflecting the ongoing conflict between the executive branch and judicial rulings.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt emphasized during a briefing that Ábrego García “will never live in the United States of America,” a statement that resonates amidst rising tensions regarding crime perceptions linked to immigrant populations. This unfolding situation continues to draw national attention to the implications of illegal deportations and the highlighted disparities in immigration enforcement practices.
