Van Hollen Presses for Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s Release \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Senator Chris Van Hollen returned from El Salvador demanding justice for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident wrongfully deported despite court orders. The case has intensified partisan battles over immigration, with Democrats citing executive overreach and Republicans labeling Garcia a gang member. Trump officials refuse to comply with rulings for his return.
Quick Looks
- Sen. Chris Van Hollen visited El Salvador to meet with deported Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia
- Garcia was deported despite a Supreme Court ruling mandating his return to the U.S.
- Van Hollen says the case symbolizes Trump’s defiance of the American judiciary
- Garcia was removed in what ICE admits was an “administrative error”
- El Salvador moved him from the harsh CECOT prison to a lower-security facility
- Democrats claim this is political retaliation; Republicans allege Garcia is an MS-13 member
- No formal gang-related charges have been brought against Garcia
- President Trump and President Bukele refuse to allow his return
- More Democratic lawmakers plan trips to El Salvador; Republicans have visited the prison in support of Trump
- Court rulings continue to pressure the executive branch to respect the judiciary
Deep Look
Returning from a high-stakes diplomatic visit to El Salvador, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) is sounding the alarm over what he calls not just a case of wrongful deportation, but a direct affront to the U.S. legal system. His three-day trip centered around meeting Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen and Maryland resident who was deported in defiance of court orders — a move even federal officials acknowledge as a mistake.
“This case is not just about one man,” Van Hollen said during a news conference at Washington Dulles International Airport. “It’s about the constitutional rights of everyone who resides in the United States — and the blatant disregard shown by the Trump administration for the rule of law.”
The dispute has now evolved from a legal misstep to a full-blown political clash that has galvanized lawmakers, immigration advocates, and constitutional scholars.
Deportation Despite Court Rulings
Abrego Garcia’s deportation came even after a U.S. Supreme Court order instructed the Trump administration to facilitate his return. Officials have since admitted it was an “administrative error,” yet no action has been taken to rectify it. Instead, President Trump and his administration have doubled down, accusing Garcia of gang affiliation, a claim not supported by any criminal charges.
ICE and DHS have declined to comply with judicial requests, offering little more than vague justifications. Court filings show ongoing delays and a refusal to clarify whether Garcia will be repatriated. Judges, including Republican appointees, have warned that this standoff could damage the perception of judicial legitimacy in the U.S.
A Meeting Surrounded by Surveillance
In El Salvador, Van Hollen met with Garcia on Thursday at a government-arranged facility. Previously detained at the infamous CECOT mega-prison, known for its overcrowding and extreme conditions, Garcia was recently moved to a lower-security detention center in Santa Ana.
Van Hollen reported that Garcia shared a cell with 25 other inmates in CECOT and lived in fear. Though he now faces better conditions, the senator cautioned that their conversation was monitored by government minders, casting doubt on the authenticity of what could be safely shared.
The Salvadoran government tried to paint the meeting in a different light. President Nayib Bukele posted a photo of the two seated at a table, which included drinks garnished with cherries and sugar rims — an apparent attempt to portray a casual or celebratory tone. Van Hollen countered, saying the beverages were staged props and neither he nor Garcia consumed them.
The Political Firestorm Back Home
Back in the U.S., the Abrego Garcia case has become a flashpoint in the immigration debate, especially amid the early months of Trump’s second term. Van Hollen’s visit, though symbolic, has not yet resulted in Garcia’s release, and the situation remains murky.
“We will not stop speaking out,” Van Hollen said, flanked by Garcia’s wife Jennifer, who wiped away tears during the press conference.
Democrats argue the continued detention — and refusal to return Garcia — demonstrates the Trump administration’s contempt for the judiciary and overreach of executive authority. Republicans, meanwhile, have supported Trump’s stance, framing Garcia as a security threat despite the lack of formal charges.
“He will never live in the United States of America again,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Trump himself weighed in on Friday, referring to Garcia as an “illegal alien” and a “foreign terrorist”, and mocked Van Hollen on social media for “begging for attention in El Salvador.”
Republican Support for Detention
While Democrats are planning follow-up trips to El Salvador, some Republican lawmakers have already made their support known. Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) visited the CECOT prison earlier in the week and shared photos online, praising Trump’s efforts to “secure our homeland.”
His visit is part of a growing GOP campaign to bolster Trump’s immigration enforcement policies — even in the face of judicial disapproval.
Court Challenges and Legal Precedents
The Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently rebuked the administration’s refusal to respond to court orders, saying in a ruling:
“The judiciary will be hurt by the constant intimations of its illegitimacy… the executive branch will lose much from a public perception of its lawlessness.”
The panel, which included judges appointed by both Republican and Democratic presidents, unanimously upheld the order requiring sworn testimony from Trump administration officials about the handling of Garcia’s deportation.
Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, a Reagan appointee, expressed concern that executive defiance is eroding public faith in the rule of law.
“We cling to the hope that it is not naïve to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos,” he wrote.
A Broader Crackdown?
Garcia is not the only foreign national caught in this enforcement wave. Since March, El Salvador has accepted over 200 Venezuelan deportees accused of gang affiliations and violent crimes. Bukele’s government has placed them in maximum-security prisons, highlighting a broader crackdown aligned with Trump’s second-term immigration goals.
Still, Abrego Garcia’s situation stands apart due to the court’s explicit involvement, the lack of criminal charges, and the apparent refusal to correct an acknowledged mistake.
Final Thoughts: Rule of Law or Rule of Power?
As the battle over Abrego Garcia’s fate unfolds, the question becomes more profound than one man’s return. The case has emerged as a litmus test for the integrity of the American legal system, exposing the friction between judicial authority and executive willpower.
Whether Garcia ever returns to Maryland remains unknown. But for Van Hollen and others, the stakes are higher than any single deportation case — they go to the heart of America’s commitment to justice and constitutional order.
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