Sen. Chris Van Hollen meets with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador | CNN Politics

Senator Van Hollen Meets with Wrongfully Deportated Man

Senator Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man wrongly deported to El Salvador, in a meeting that has ignited political debate.

The Meeting and its Aftermath

The meeting, which took place Thursday night, followed Van Hollen's attempts to visit Abrego Garcia in CECOT, a maximum-security prison. Initially denied access, Van Hollen eventually met with Abrego Garcia, whose continued custody in El Salvador was confirmed by President Nayib Bukele. Bukele's comments sarcastically referenced criticism of Abrego Garcia's imprisonment.

Abrego Garcia's wife expressed relief and gratitude for the meeting, stating her family's prayers had been answered.

Political Fallout and Accusations

The meeting has triggered political sparring. The White House criticized Van Hollen's actions, while Van Hollen defended his efforts to ensure due process, emphasizing that his visit aimed to uphold the US judicial system's guarantee of due process.

• Van Hollen met with US Embassy staff, as well as DHS, FBI, and DEA representatives, to discuss collaborative efforts on transnational gang issues.
• Despite the meeting, Abrego Garcia remains in El Salvadoran custody, with authorities citing the ongoing state of exception.

The case highlights a broader debate on US deportation policies, with differing accounts on Abrego Garcia's alleged gang affiliation and the circumstances of his deportation. These diverging accounts are central to the political conflict.