In a case that has drawn international attention, Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland has made a startling claim regarding the continued imprisonment of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a legal U.S. resident, in El Salvador’s notorious prison, CECOT. Van Hollen alleges that the Salvadoran government is refusing to release Garcia because the U.S. is financially supporting his incarceration. Axios+5New York Magazine+5Wikipedia+5Reuters
Garcia, who fled El Salvador at 16 to escape gang violence, had been living legally in Maryland. In March 2025, he was mistakenly deported by the Trump administration, which accused him of MS-13 gang affiliation without filing any charges. Despite a unanimous Supreme Court ruling ordering his return, the administration has defied the decision, arguing it has no legal obligation to comply. ReutersReuters+5Axios+5Wikipedia+5Axios+2New York Magazine+2Politico+2
Senator Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to advocate for Garcia’s release but was denied access to him. Salvadoran Vice President Félix Ulloa told Van Hollen that the government couldn’t return Garcia to the U.S. Van Hollen criticized the Trump administration’s defiance of the judiciary, calling it a constitutional crisis, and vowed to oppose any congressional funding that facilitates Garcia’s illegal detention. Wikipedia+5AP News+5Reuters+5Reuters+3New York Magazine+3Politico+3
The situation has sparked political tension in the U.S., with Democrats condemning the administration’s actions and Republicans framing the issue as one of immigration control and public safety. The administration maintains Garcia’s alleged MS-13 ties but has not provided evidence. Politico+1AP News+1Wikipedia+4AP News+4Axios+4
Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, has publicly defended him, stating that he has no criminal record and that previous allegations were resolved privately. Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the conditions in CECOT, where Garcia is held, noting that over 84,000 people have been detained there as part of President Nayib Bukele’s gang crackdown. Wikipedia+1Reuters+1AP News+1Wikipedia+1
The case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia highlights the complexities of immigration policy, international relations, and the rule of law, raising questions about due process and human rights.Reuters+5
