Senator Van Hollen Slams Bukele Over Deportation Setup \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to meet Kilmar Abrego Garcia following an erroneous deportation. During the visit, he accused President Bukele of staging a misleading photo op involving fake margaritas. Van Hollen also criticized Donald Trump for spreading false claims about the deportee’s gang affiliations.
Quick Looks
- Senator Chris Van Hollen met deportee Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador.
- He accused President Nayib Bukele of staging a misleading photo-op.
- Glasses resembling margaritas were allegedly placed mid-meeting by officials.
- Van Hollen insists no drinks were consumed, calling it a clear setup.
- Trump chimed in, labeling Van Hollen “fake” and repeating gang-related allegations.
- No court documents support claims linking Abrego Garcia to MS-13.
- Van Hollen says this reflects a broader fight for constitutional rights.
- El Salvador government has not responded to the senator’s statements.
Deep Look
In a highly charged diplomatic moment that underscores the intersection of immigration policy, international relations, and political misinformation, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) made a personal trip to El Salvador this week to meet Kilmar Abrego Garcia—a man at the center of a controversial deportation that has ignited debate on both sides of the border.
Abrego Garcia was deported from the United States under contentious circumstances, despite a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court order requiring the federal government to facilitate his return. Van Hollen’s trip was intended to gain insight into Abrego Garcia’s condition, challenge the conditions surrounding his deportation, and reaffirm U.S. legal commitments. What he encountered, however, quickly spiraled into what he has dubbed “Margarita-Gate”—an apparent attempt by El Salvador’s government to stage a misleading photo-op to discredit both himself and Abrego Garcia.
A Staged Encounter?
According to Van Hollen, the meeting with Abrego Garcia was already off to a rocky start. Salvadoran officials initially denied him access to CECOT—the maximum-security prison where the government had claimed Abrego Garcia was detained. The senator was preparing to leave the country when he received an unexpected message indicating that a meeting with Abrego Garcia would be possible.
The meeting, which El Salvador’s government allegedly wanted to hold poolside, was instead relocated by Van Hollen to an indoor dining space to ensure the environment was more appropriate for a serious diplomatic dialogue. During this hour-long discussion, photos were taken showing the senator and Abrego Garcia seated at a table with glasses of water and a single cup of coffee.
But soon after, photos released by El Salvador’s government showed additional glasses that appeared to contain margaritas or a similar beverage—with rims dusted in salt or sugar—on the table. Van Hollen asserts these glasses were not there at the start and were placed midway through the meeting by government officials, presumably as part of a deliberate attempt to stage a deceptive narrative.
“They were clearly trying to create an impression—that we were casually drinking cocktails while discussing a serious deportation case,” Van Hollen told reporters. “But that narrative falls apart when you scrutinize the images. No one touched those glasses. The rims are intact. There’s no evidence anyone drank from them.”
Political Undercurrents and Trump’s Involvement
The senator didn’t stop at criticizing El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. He also turned his attention toward former President Donald Trump, accusing him of weaponizing the incident to distract from larger legal and human rights issues at play. In remarks made Friday, Trump described Van Hollen as “fake” and repeated longstanding but unsubstantiated claims that Abrego Garcia is a member of the notorious MS-13 gang.
“They’re all fake, and they have no interest in that prisoner,” Trump said. “That prisoner’s record is unbelievably bad.” He then went on to cite violent crimes associated with MS-13 members, despite the fact that Abrego Garcia has not been charged or convicted in any U.S. court with gang-related activity. His family and legal representatives have vehemently denied any affiliation with MS-13.
Van Hollen said Trump’s remarks are part of a broader political strategy to delegitimize judicial oversight and human rights protections, especially in the context of immigration and deportation cases. “They want to shift the conversation away from the fact that our own government is ignoring a unanimous Supreme Court ruling,” he said.
Deeper Implications for Human Rights and Legal Process
While the optics of “Margarita-Gate” have grabbed headlines, Van Hollen insists the real issue is much larger than a photo op. “This case is not just about Kilmar Abrego Garcia,” he said. “It’s about whether the United States honors its own Constitution and follows the rule of law. If we allow this kind of misdirection and misinformation to go unchallenged, it puts everyone’s rights at risk.”
He expressed concern that Abrego Garcia’s case could set a dangerous precedent, allowing government agencies to defy court orders under the guise of national security or criminal association without presenting legal evidence. “What we’re seeing here is the erosion of due process and the manipulation of public perception,” Van Hollen warned. “And that’s something every American should be deeply concerned about.”
Van Hollen’s criticisms of Bukele, who has become known for his aggressive rhetoric and controversial crackdown on gang violence, also echo growing concerns in the international community about transparency, human rights abuses, and the politicization of law enforcement in El Salvador.
A Call for Accountability
The senator closed his press remarks by calling for greater accountability from both the Salvadoran government and the U.S. administration. He demanded compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling and urged leaders to “stop using fear and misinformation to undermine justice.”
As of this writing, the Salvadoran government has issued no formal response to Van Hollen’s allegations or the photographic evidence he claims was manipulated. Meanwhile, Trump continues to amplify false narratives about Abrego Garcia’s background, potentially fueling further confusion and polarization on an already complex legal and humanitarian issue.
Ultimately, Van Hollen’s journey to El Salvador was about more than one man. It was a stand against injustice, a challenge to disinformation, and a reaffirmation of the core values of transparency, due process, and the rule of law.
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