Jennifer Vasquez Sura, the wife of Kilmar Ábrego García, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration, expressed relief upon learning that he is alive. Democratic US Senator Chris Van Hollen managed to meet with Ábrego García at a maximum security prison in El Salvador, where he is being held without due process. Despite having a federal protection order against deportation to El Salvador, Ábrego García was flown there along with over 200 Venezuelan deportees last month, a move that has faced legal challenges up to the supreme court.

Van Hollen shared a photo of himself with Ábrego García in the prison, promising a full update upon his return to the US. Meanwhile, Vasquez described her husband as a loving husband and father, denying his alleged affiliation with the MS-13 gang. The Trump administration admitted the error in deporting Ábrego García but has not taken action to bring him back despite court orders.

The conflict escalated as the US government resisted court orders to facilitate Ábrego García’s return, with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele refusing to repatriate him. In a scathing court order, a US court of appeals criticized the administration’s position, emphasizing the importance of due process and constitutional democracy. The judges warned of the consequences of weakening the courts and the perception of lawlessness within the executive branch.

Amidst the legal battle, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from implementing a new policy that would allow rapid deportations of migrants without proper evaluation of their fear of persecution. The situation remains complex, highlighting the tensions between the executive and judicial branches of the US government.