Senator blocked from meeting deported US resident in El Salvador
Senator Chris Van Hollen was denied access to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
Garcia is the Maryland resident wrongly deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration last month, despite a U.S. court order blocking his deportation.
Van Hollen travelled to the country hoping to meet Garcia at the notorious Terrorism Confinement Center prison, where he is detained.
El Salvador’s Vice President Felix Ulloa refused the visit, saying prior arrangements were needed.
Ulloa also declined requests to allow Garcia’s family to speak to him by phone.
The senator criticised the Trump administration for deporting Garcia and falsely labelling him a gang member.
Garcia, who lived in the U.S. for more than a decade, fled El Salvador due to gang threats.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has called Garcia an illegal immigrant and linked him to the MS-13 gang, though no due process was given to prove those claims.
Both Garcia and his wife deny ties to the MS-13.
Despite admitting the deportation was a mistake, the Trump administration has not acted to bring Garcia back.
Van Hollen pledged to return next week to push for a meeting.
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