Kilmar Abrego García meets with Maryland’s senator in El Salvador, weeks after the wrong deportation

The Maryland senator, Chris Van Hollen, says that he has met Kilmar Abrego García, whom immigration officials say he was deported by mistake, in El Salvador on Thursday, Van Hollen’s spokesman confirmed to News themezone.

The Democratic Senator shared a photo with Abrego García in what seems to be a restaurant.

“I said that my main objective of this trip was to meet Kilmar,” said Senator Van Hollen. “Tonight I had that opportunity. I called his wife, Jennifer, to transmit his love message. I hope to provide a complete update on my return.”

The Salvadoran president, Nayib Bukele, also published photos of the meeting, but suggested that Abrego García will continue to be imprisoned for his government, that the United States pays to keep those deported: “Now that it has been confirmed healthy, it obtains the honor of staying in the custody of El Salvador.”

Abrego García’s wife, Jennifer Vásquez, said in a statement after the meeting, her “prayers have been answered.”

“We still have so many questions, hopes and fears. I will continue to pray and fight for the return of Kilma home,” Vásquez wrote.

The White House Secretary, Kush Desai, called the visit of Van Hollen “truly unpleasant”, writing, “Chris van Hollen has firmly established the Democrats as the party whose main priority is the well-being of an illegal terrorist of MS-13 alien.” Abrego García’s lawyers have strongly denied any connection with MS-13.

The surprise meeting with Van Hollen marks the first known appearance of Abrego García since last month, when his deportation to the famous terrorism confinement center of El Salvador attracted national attention and caused a legal confrontation with the Trump administration.

The administration accepted In judicial documents, Abrego García was sent to El Salvador, along with hundreds of others Salvadoran and Venezuelan migrants, due to an “administrative error.” The United States District Judge, Paula Xinis, ordered the Government to “facilitate” the return of Abrego García to the United States and the Supreme Court He retreated that orderbut he has remained in El Salvador since then, with Xinis suggesting that the Government has not fulfilled its order and demanding regular updates In his state.

The Trump administration has delayed, arguing that it depends on El Salvador to decide whether to return to Abrego García – A discussion An appeal court called “shocking” on Thursday. The Government also claimed that Abrego García is linked to the saving gang MS-13, citing a confidential informant, although his lawyers have denied that accusation and pointed out that Abrego García has not been accused or convicted of any crime.

Abrego García, 29, was born in El Salvador, but entered the United States illegally in 2011 at the age of 16. He was arrested outside a homeland homeland in 2019, but a judge prevented the Government from sporting to El Salvador, warning that he could be persecuted by gangs in his country of origin. Years later, in March of this year, he was arrested by immigration agents in Maryland and sent to the saving detention center, known as CECOT.

The case of Abrego García is in the center of a controversial impulse by the Trump administration to send dozens of migrants, including the members of MS-13 and the Venezuelan gang Train of Aragua, to Cecot using the law of alien enemies of 1798, which Allows the president to deport citizens of an enemy nation during an “inquiring or folding incursion.” The gambit has been challenged in the Court, and the opponents denounce the conditions in CECOT and discussion The government is denying migrants the right to due process. A “60 minutes” Report found The majority of the 238 Venezuelans sent to Cecot on several aircraft last month had no apparent criminal record. But the Trump administration has defended its use of the law, arguing that it is taking energetic measures against the violence of the gangs.

Van Hollen meeting with Abrego García He arrived after the senator was rejected Thursday at a military control point Near Cecot. He said he was about three kilometers from the notorious Supermax prison, When the soldiers arrested him, who, according to him, were ordered to prevent him from going to prison.

Van Hollen went to El Salvador on Wednesday, with the intention of verifying Welfare of Abrego García. He provided updates on his trip.

“My general purpose here is to send a sign that we are not going to stop fighting for his return until he is released,” said Van Hollen before his flight.

• Maryland
• Kilmar Abrego Garcia
• Donald Trump
• El Salvador