Senator Chris Van Hollen’s surprise meeting with a wrongly deported El Salvadoran citizen sparks hope for his return to the US, amidst a contentious immigration policy and a constitutional flashpoint looming large.
Senator Chris Van Hollen‘s recent visit to El Salvador was marked by an unexpected meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old man who was wrongly deported to the country last month. The Democratic senator had been denied access to meet with ‘Abrego Garcia at first, but ultimately made it happen, sharing a photo of their encounter on social media.’
The Backstory: A Wrongful Deportation
Abrego Garcia was sent to El Salvador’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) despite a court order preventing his deportation. The US Supreme Court has since ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his return, citing an ‘administrative error‘ that led to his wrongful removal.
The administration claims that it cannot release Abrego Garcia from foreign custody and return him to the US, but a federal appeals court has scathingly criticized this stance as ‘shocking.’
The possibility of a constitutional flashpoint if the administration defies the highest court is growing by the day.
A Meeting with Consequences
Van Hollen‘s meeting with Abrego Garcia came after he had been stopped by soldiers about three kilometers from the prison complex. The senator shared that he had called Abrego Garcia‘s wife, ‘Jennifer, to pass along his message of love and would provide a full update’ after returning to the US.
The White House has reiterated its claims that Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 terrorist, but without providing evidence. El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele appeared to mock Van Hollen‘s meeting with Abrego Garcia, saying that now that the man has been confirmed healthy, he gets to stay in El Salvador’s custody.
A Costly Deportation Policy
Washington is paying millions of dollars to El Salvador to lock up deported immigrants alleged to be criminals and gang members. The situation highlights the need for a more nuanced approach to immigration policy, one that prioritizes human rights and dignity over politics and expediency.
