In a move that has drawn international attention, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele shared images of Kilmar Armando Ábrego García—a Maryland father mistakenly deported by the Trump administration—now detained in El Salvador’s notorious mega-prison, CECOT. The images, posted on Twitter, depict García alongside U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, who traveled to El Salvador to assess García’s condition. Bukele’s caption read: “Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the ‘death camps’ & ‘torture’, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!” Vanity Fair+18UNILAD+18People.com+18The Guardian+1New York Magazine+1
García, who fled gang violence in El Salvador over a decade ago, had been granted protected status in the U.S. since 2019. However, in March 2025, he was deported due to an administrative error, despite a court order safeguarding him from removal. Upon arrival in El Salvador, he was incarcerated in CECOT, a facility known for housing alleged gang members and described by some as the “world’s worst prison.” UNILAD+2UNILAD+2People.com+2People.com+4The Cut+4People.com+4
The Trump administration acknowledged the mistake but has resisted efforts to repatriate García, citing executive authority and national security concerns. Despite a Supreme Court order mandating his return, both the U.S. and El Salvador governments have declined to act, each deflecting responsibility. Global News+9People.com+9UNILAD+9AP News
Senator Van Hollen’s visit aimed to shed light on García’s situation and advocate for his return. However, access to García was initially denied, and the administration’s continued defiance of court orders has sparked a constitutional debate over the separation of powers and the rule of law. The Guardian+2UNILAD+2New York Magazine+2New York Magazine
The case has intensified partisan divisions in the U.S., with Democrats condemning the deportation as a violation of due process and human rights, while the Trump administration maintains its stance on strict immigration enforcement. As García remains imprisoned, his family in Maryland continues to seek justice and his safe return. 
