Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen says he has met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who immigration officers say was deported by error, in El Salvador on Thursday, Van Hollen’s spokesperson confirmed to CBS Information.
The Democratic senator shared a photograph with Abrego Garcia at what seems to be a restaurant.
“I mentioned my primary purpose of this journey was to satisfy with Kilmar,” Sen. Van Hollen mentioned. “Tonight I had that likelihood. I’ve referred to as his spouse, Jennifer, to go alongside his message of affection. I look ahead to offering a full replace upon my return.”
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele additionally posted photos of the assembly, however recommended Abrego Garcia will stay incarcerated by his authorities, which is being paid by the US to carry deportees: “Now that he is been confirmed wholesome, he will get the respect of staying in El Salvador’s custody.”
Abrego Garcia’s spouse, Jennifer Vasquez, mentioned in a press release after the assembly her “prayers have been answered.”
“We nonetheless have so many questions, hopes, and fears. I’ll proceed praying and combating for Kilma’s’ return dwelling,” Vasquez wrote.
White Home deputy press secretary Kush Desai referred to as Van Hollen’s go to “really disgusting,” writing, “Chris Van Hollen has firmly established Democrats because the get together whose high precedence is the welfare of an unlawful alien MS-13 terrorist.” Abrego Garcia’s attorneys have strongly denied any connections to MS-13.
The shock assembly with Van Hollen marks Abrego Garcia’s first recognized look since final month, when his deportation to El Salvador’s infamous Terrorism Confinement Heart drew nationwide consideration and sparked a authorized standoff with the Trump administration.
The administration admitted in court docket papers Abrego Garcia was despatched to El Salvador — together with hundreds of other Salvadoran and Venezuelan migrants — resulting from an “administrative error.” U.S. District Decide Paula Xinis ordered the federal government to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return to the US, and the Supreme Court docket backed up that order, however he has remained in El Salvador since then, with Xinis suggesting the federal government hasn’t complied together with her order and demanding regular updates on his standing.
The Trump administration has pushed again, arguing it is as much as El Salvador to determine whether or not to return Abrego Garcia — an argument an appeals court docket referred to as “surprising” on Thursday. The federal government has additionally alleged Abrego Garcia is linked to Salvadoran gang MS-13, citing a confidential informant, although his attorneys have denied that allegation and famous Abrego Garcia has not been charged or convicted of any crimes.
Abrego Garcia, 29, was born in El Salvador however entered the US illegally in 2011 on the age of 16. He was arrested exterior a Maryland Dwelling Depot in 2019, however a choose barred the government from deporting him to El Salvador, warning he may very well be persecuted by gangs in his dwelling nation. Years later, in March of this 12 months, he was detained by immigration brokers in Maryland and despatched to the Salvadoran detention heart, referred to as CECOT.
Abrego Garcia’s case is on the heart of a controversial push by the Trump administration to ship scores of migrants — together with accused members of MS-13 and Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua — to CECOT utilizing the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which allows the president to deport residents of an enemy nation throughout an “invasion or predatory incursion.” The gambit has been challenged in court docket, with opponents decrying circumstances in CECOT and arguing the federal government is denying migrants the correct to due course of. A “60 Minutes” report found a lot of the 238 Venezuelans despatched to CECOT on a number of planes final month had no obvious legal file. However the Trump administration has defended its use of the regulation, arguing it’s cracking down on gang violence.
Van Hollen’s assembly with Abrego Garcia came after the senator was turned away Thursday at a military checkpoint close to CECOT. He mentioned he was about three kilometers from the infamous supermax prison, when he was stopped by troopers, who he mentioned had been ordered to stop him from going towards the jail.
Van Hollen left for El Salvador on Wednesday, desiring to verify on Abrego Garcia’s well-being. He offered updates on his journey.
“My total goal right here is to ship a sign that we’re not going to cease combating for his return till he’s really launched,” Van Hollen mentioned earlier than his flight.
