Sen. Van Hollen Denied Entry to Salvadoran Prison Amid Deportation Controversy
San Salvador (AP) — Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen faced a significant hurdle on Thursday while attempting to assess the condition of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen wrongfully deported to an El Salvador prison despite a U.S. immigration court order. Van Hollen’s diplomatic mission was met with obstruction when soldiers at a checkpoint barred his vehicle from proceeding to the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, reflecting stark tensions surrounding Abrego Garcia’s deportation.
The senator’s visit aims to advocate for the 33-year-old man’s release, which has drawn heightened political scrutiny as both President Joe Biden and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele acknowledged the absence of grounds for his deportation. Van Hollen expressed frustration at being denied entry, insisting that Abrego Garcia has been incommunicado with his family and legal counsel, violating international standards for due process.
The case has highlighted partisan divisions in U.S. politics. Democrats, underscoring the cruelty of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, are rallying around Abrego Garcia’s plight. Conversely, Republicans defend his deportation, framing it as part of a broader initiative to combat gang violence. Sen. Van Hollen’s calls for accountability have resonated in the Capitol, with fellow Democrats including New Jersey’s Cory Booker considering similar visits to El Salvador.
In the backdrop, a controversial crackdown on gangs by Bukele’s government has resulted in the incarceration of approximately 84,000 individuals, drawing criticism from human rights organizations alleging mistreatment of detainees. Reports indicate that despite the political firefight, the Biden administration remains unfulfilled in its commitment to safeguard deportees’ rights, with ongoing deliberations over how best to repatriate Abrego Garcia.
As tensions remain high, Van Hollen vowed to continue the fight for justice, declaring that many more lawmakers would soon follow his lead to El Salvador.
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