Senator Chris Van Hollen’s request to visit his constituent, Kilmar Ábrego García, who was wrongly deported to El Salvador, was denied by the government of El Salvador. Despite traveling to the country with the intention of meeting Ábrego García at the Terrorism Confinement Center, where he is being held, Van Hollen was unable to do so. The visit came after both President Trump and El Salvador’s President Bukele refused to facilitate Ábrego García’s return to the United States, despite a ruling from the US supreme court to do so.

During a press conference in El Salvador, Van Hollen expressed his frustration at not being able to meet with Ábrego García, highlighting the unjust situation caused by the erroneous deportation. He offered to return the following week for a meeting but was met with uncertainty from the country’s vice-president, Félix Ulloa. The senator criticized the Trump administration for its handling of the situation, emphasizing that Ábrego García had been wrongly associated with the MS-13 gang and had legal protected status in the US.

Van Hollen’s visit has drawn attention to the deportation issue, with Democrats accusing the Trump administration of defying court orders and creating a constitutional crisis. Despite facing backlash from the White House and Trump’s border czar, Van Hollen remains determined to seek justice for his constituent and has called for more lawmakers to visit El Salvador to address the situation.

The unfolding events underscore the complexities of immigration policies and the challenges faced by individuals caught in deportation errors, shedding light on the need for accountability and justice in such cases.