DeKalb GA News

Maryland Democrat U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen recently visited El Salvador to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported illegal immigrant accused of being a member of the MS-13 gang and committing domestic violence. This visit took place at the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) prison, where Garcia is currently held following his deportation by the Trump administration.

Garcia had settled in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., after entering the U.S. illegally over a decade ago. Both an immigration court and appeals court found him to be affiliated with MS-13. Last month, he was deported to El Salvador despite a court order that initially prevented his return. This deportation was part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration targeting Central and South American gang members, with the U.S. government designating such gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

During his visit, Van Hollen finally managed to meet Garcia after previous unsuccessful attempts. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele responded to the meeting by sharing images on social media, quipping, “Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the 'death camps' and 'torture,' is now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!"

Van Hollen took to social media, sharing his own image from the meeting and commenting, “I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return.”

President Bukele continued with a playful remark, saying, “Now that he’s been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvador’s custody.”

The situation surrounding Garcia has been a topic of tension between U.S. and El Salvador officials, reflecting broader issues related to immigration and deportation policies. Van Hollen's trip was an attempt to address this contentious situation.