Maryland senator not allowed to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador prison

Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, was unable to visit his constituent Kilmar Ábrego García, who is detained at the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the United States will not bring back Ábrego García, who was wrongly deported. Despite a Supreme Court ruling ordering the Trump administration to facilitate his return, Bondi insisted that Ábrego García would not be allowed back into the country. Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador with the intention of meeting Ábrego García, who is held at the same facility as other individuals deported from the U.S. The Trump administration acknowledged an administrative error in Ábrego García’s deportation. Despite his efforts, Van Hollen was unable to secure a meeting with Ábrego García, as the country’s vice president informed him it was not possible. Van Hollen expressed frustration at the situation, questioning why Ábrego García is being held if there is no evidence linking him to criminal activities. Bondi claimed that Ábrego García is an illegal immigrant who had been living unlawfully in the U.S. and would not be allowed to return. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele also indicated that Ábrego García would not be sent back to the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security attempted to discredit Ábrego García by accusing him of being a member of the MS-13 gang, despite lacking evidence to support the claim. The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the administration to facilitate Ábrego García’s return, emphasizing that he should have received a hearing before deportation. Bondi maintained that Ábrego García would not be allowed to remain in the U.S., emphasizing that he belongs in El Salvador.