Topline
El Salvadoran officials prohibited Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., from meeting with the Salvadoran citizen mistakenly deported by the Trump administration earlier this month, Van Hollen said Wednesday during a visit to El Salvador.
US Senator Chris Van Hollen during a press conference at a city viewpoint in Antiguo Cuscatlán, El ... More
Key Facts
Van Hollen said El Salvador’s vice president told him he couldn’t see Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported on March 15 to El Salvador’s terrorism confinement center, known as CECOT, and that he might be able to arrange a phone call if the U.S. Embassy requests it.
The Maryland senator traveled to El Salvador in hopes of seeing Abrego Garcia as the Trump administration has refused to comply with a district court ruling to bring him back to the U.S.
Both U.S. and Salvadoran government officials have claimed they were helpless in doing anything to help Abrego Garcia’s return—despite Trump officials admitting he was sent in error.
Both governments say they would be violating each others’ sovereignty if they facilitated Abrego Garcia’s return—Van Hollen said El Salvador Vice President Félix Ulloa told him “El Salvador can’t smuggle Mr. Abrego Garcia into the United States,” while Trump officials have said it would amount to “kidnapping” if they took Abrego Garcia back from El Salvador, since he’s a citizen there.
Trump officials have ramped up their defense of Abrego Garcia’s deportation, alleging he’s a member of the MS-13 street gang who was in the U.S. illegally—the gang allegation stems from a tip law enforcement received from a confidential informant in 2019, though Abrego Garcia’s lawyer has said there’s no reason to believe it’s true and he has never been convicted of a crime.
Tangent
Abrego Garcia’s lawyer, Ama Frimpong, told WTOP radio last week her legal team hasn’t spoken to him since he was deported and has “no report on how he is doing.” Van Hollen also said Wednesday he has no information on his health or safety. The Trump administration said Saturday in a court filing the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador confirmed Abrego Garcia is alive and being held at CECOT.
Surprising Fact
The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday tweeted an image of a restraining order application Abrego Garcia’s wife filed against him in 2021, alleging he punched, scratched and bruised her, and ripped off her shirt. “Kilmar Abrego Garcia had a history of violence and was not the upstanding ‘Maryland Man’ the media has portrayed him as,” DHS wrote on X.
Key Background
The Trump administration deported more than 230 men to El Salvador on March 15 under the newly invoked Alien Enemies Act, prompting multiple court battles. Immigration and Customs Enforcement admitted earlier this month to overlooking a judge’s 2019 order not to deport Abrego Garcia because he could face gang threats in El Salvador. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ordered the Trump administration to return Abrego Garcia, and the Supreme Court ruled last week that it must “facilitate” his release. Xinis on Tuesday said the administration has done “nothing” to comply with her order. In another case, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg on Wednesday suggested the Trump administration likely committed criminal contempt of court for refusing to comply with his order to turn the flights around after he temporarily paused the Alien Enemies Act.
Further Reading
White House Doubles Down On Erroneous Deportation Of Maryland Dad (Forbes)
2022 midterms</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href=https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/04/16/el-salvador-wont-let-sen-van-hollen-see-abrego-garcia-he-says/"https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2024/03/12/trump-clinches-republican-nomination/?sh=6c7e454b1d07%22>2024 presidential campaign</a>, the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href=https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/04/16/el-salvador-wont-let-sen-van-hollen-see-abrego-garcia-he-says/"https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2022/12/19/january-6-committee-makes-four-criminal-referrals-against-trump-to-the-justice-department/?sh=5535e2e1427e%22>January 6 House committee investigation</a>, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href=https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/04/16/el-salvador-wont-let-sen-van-hollen-see-abrego-garcia-he-says/"https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/10/03/mccarthy-ousted-first-house-speaker-ever-booted-from-the-job/">historic ouster,</a> the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href=https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/04/16/el-salvador-wont-let-sen-van-hollen-see-abrego-garcia-he-says/"https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2024/03/07/here-are-the-big-announcements-coming-in-bidens-state-of-the-union/?sh=7a300035dc3a%22>2023 State of the Union Address</a>, former President Donald Trump's <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href=https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/04/16/el-salvador-wont-let-sen-van-hollen-see-abrego-garcia-he-says/"https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/08/01/trump-indicted-ex-president-faces-4-criminal-counts-in-jan-6-probe/?sh=63aedb5c9ae1%22>federal election interference</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href=https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/04/16/el-salvador-wont-let-sen-van-hollen-see-abrego-garcia-he-says/"https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/06/09/trump-indicted-on-37-felony-counts-in-mar-a-lago-documents-case/?sh=6154022a365e%22>classified documents</a> cases and his <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href=https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/04/16/el-salvador-wont-let-sen-van-hollen-see-abrego-garcia-he-says/"https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/03/30/trump-indicted-by-manhattan-grand-jury-arraignment-expected-tuesday-on-over-30-charges-reports-say/?sh=1ca43dde3d61%22>Manhattan hush money case</a>. Dorn graduated in 2012 from the University of Dayton with a degree in journalism. Prior to joining Forbes, she covered New York City and state politics for the New York Post and City and State magazine. Follow her for updates and analysis on the 2024 presidential race, key Senate and House races and developments in Congress and at the White House.</p>">
