SAN SALVADOR — In a powerful and emotional moment, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man deported from the United States despite a court order halting his removal. The meeting, which took place Thursday evening in a local restaurant, follows two days of advocacy from Van Hollen and growing legal and political tension surrounding the case.
Abrego Garcia had been living in Maryland with his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, before the Trump administration deported him in March, ignoring a court’s stay on his removal. The deportation has since been labeled an “administrative error” by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), but the mistake has become a flashpoint in the wider debate over immigration policy, executive overreach, and human rights.
“I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar,” Van Hollen wrote on X, with a photo of the two men talking in what appeared to be a restaurant. “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.”
Photos of the meeting were shared online by both Van Hollen and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. Bukele’s post, however, emphasized that Abrego Garcia would remain in custody, writing, “Now that he’s been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvador’s custody.” The tweet ended with emojis of the U.S. and Salvadoran flags, along with a handshake.
The visit came after Van Hollen was denied entry into the high-security prison where Abrego Garcia is currently held—the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a maximum-security facility used to imprison suspected gang members. El Salvador’s government, citing orders, stopped the senator’s convoy at a military checkpoint roughly two miles from the facility.
In Washington, the issue brought about heated discussion. Republicans supported the deportation as part of larger efforts to tackle illegal immigration and gang violence, while Democrats believe the action shows a troubling disrespect for judicial authority. Despite the lack of official charges or evidence to support them, several Republican leaders assert that Abrego Garcia has connections to the MS-13 gang. Any such relationship is denied by his lawyers.
The Trump administration’s refusal to repatriate Abrego Garcia was harshly condemned in a recent decision by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III cautioned in a strong decision that persistent disregard for court orders undermines the executive branch’s dedication to the rule of law and the judiciary’s reputation.
Despite the ICE admission of an “administrative error,” the White House has maintained its stance, citing alleged—but unproven—gang affiliations as justification for keeping Abrego Garcia out of the U.S.
Meanwhile, El Salvador has accepted hundreds of deportees accused of gang affiliations in recent months. President Bukele’s crackdown has imprisoned over 84,000 individuals, prompting praise from some for reducing crime, but condemnation from human rights organizations that accuse his administration of systemic mistreatment, including torture.
As pressure builds, more Democratic lawmakers have signaled plans to travel to El Salvador, underscoring the symbolic and legal importance of the case.
For now, Abrego Garcia remains behind bars in San Salvador. But his case has become a rallying point—both for those advocating immigration reform and for those defending tough-on-crime policies. Whether or not this meeting moves the needle remains to be seen, but for Senator Van Hollen, it marks a significant step in a growing campaign for justice.
