A Diplomatic Tangle: U.S. Senator Meets Detained Maryland Resident in El Salvador Amid Legal Controversy

In a high-profile visit to El Salvador, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident and Salvadoran national who was mistakenly deported from the U.S. earlier this year. The meeting, held Thursday night, followed a series of attempts by Van Hollen to gain access to the maximum-security CECOT prison where Abrego Garcia is held. His initial efforts were blocked by Salvadoran soldiers just three kilometers from the prison, sparking concerns about legal rights and transparency.

Despite facing resistance, Van Hollen confirmed that the goal of his visit was to ensure that Abrego Garcia's rights were respected, particularly regarding access to legal counsel. Citing international legal obligations, the senator stated that El Salvador, having ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, must allow prisoners to consult their lawyers. “This is about ensuring due process, not endorsing any specific narrative,” Van Hollen emphasized.

Earlier in the week, El Salvador’s vice president had denied Van Hollen access to the prison. Nevertheless, the senator managed to meet Abrego Garcia later that day, a moment captured in several photographs shared by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. In a pointed message on social media, Bukele mocked critics who had previously described CECOT as a place of torture, writing sarcastically that Abrego Garcia was now "sipping margaritas" with Van Hollen in a tropical paradise.

The case has become a political flashpoint in the United States. Abrego Garcia was deported in March due to what court documents later confirmed was a clerical error. Although he lacked legal status in the U.S., a 2019 court order prohibited his return to El Salvador. Despite this, recent Trump administration officials have denied the deportation was a mistake and alleged that Abrego Garcia is affiliated with the MS-13 gang—a claim disputed by his lawyers and viewed with skepticism by at least one federal judge.

Reacting to the senator’s visit, White House spokesperson Kush Desai criticized Van Hollen, accusing Democrats of prioritizing the welfare of an "illegal alien MS-13 terrorist." Meanwhile, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, Abrego Garcia’s wife, welcomed the meeting. “Our prayers are being heard. My children and I are grateful to know that he is alive,” she said in a statement, commending the ongoing efforts of the community to secure justice.

Van Hollen declined to comment further to reporters following the meeting, but noted that a full statement would be released later. He also revealed he had discussions with the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador and met with representatives from DHS, FBI, and DEA to coordinate joint initiatives targeting transnational gangs such as MS-13. The senator noted that while Republican congressional members had recently visited CECOT, they made no effort to meet Abrego Garcia.

Looking ahead, Van Hollen hinted that more Democratic delegations are preparing to travel to El Salvador. He reaffirmed that his mission was not to defend specific allegations, but to uphold the principle of due process—a cornerstone of the U.S. legal system. “Regardless of who is involved, legal protections must be respected,” he said.