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Maryland Sen. Van Hollen says he finally met with Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia [1]
['Sana Azem', 'Https']
Date: 2025-04
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen announced he had finally met with Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was mistakenly deported and placed in a notorious prison in El Salvador.
Sen. Van Hollen departed for El Salvador this week, with hopes to meet with Abrego Garcia at the prison where he was held. Several hours after he said he was , Sen. Van Hollen posted on X that he finally had the chance to check on Garcia's well-being.
"I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance," Sen. Van Hollen said. "I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return."
"Now that he's been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvador's custody," said El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele on X.
Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez, was told that the meeting between Abrego Garcia and Sen. Chris Van Hollen was set up by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, a source close to the family told ABC News. Abrego Garcia and his wife were not able to speak, and the family does not know where he is being held, the source said.
In a statement from Vasquez provided by CASA, an immigration advocacy group that is representing the family, she said her prayers have been answered.
"The efforts of my family and community in fighting for justice are being heard, because I now know that my husband is alive. God is listening, and the community is standing strong," Vasquez said. "We still have so many questions, hopes, and fears... I will continue praying and fighting for Kilmar's return home."
A DHS spokesperson, following Sen. Van Hollen's meeting with Abrego Garcia, said, "Senator Van Hollen is sipping margaritas with a terrorist and MS13 gang member as President Trump and Secretary Noem are fighting every day to get these criminals out of our country. Quite the contrast."
Trump administration officials emphasized that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was sent to a notorious gang prison in El Salvador, was a citizen of that country and that the U.S. has no say in his future. Meanwhile Bukele, who has been a vital partner for the Trump administration in its deportation efforts, said, “Of course, I’m not going to release him back to U.S. soil."
Sen. Van Hollen told 7News prior to his arrival in El Salvador that he told Abrego Garcia's family he would do everything he could to bring him home.
"The President could, of course, facilitate his return. After all, the United States is paying El Salvador money for this prison, and of course, the president of El Salvador can release him," Van Hollen said.
Both President Trump and President Bukele have repeatedly stated they would not return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. despite a Supreme Court ruling and several federal judges' rulings that urged the federal officials to facilitate his return.
The drama around Abrego Garcia started when federal officials claimed that Abrego Garcia was a member of MS-13, citing a 2019 Prince George's County police report that claimed clothing he wore at the time had symbols associated with the notoriously violent gang.
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[1] Url:
https://wjla.com/news/local/kilmar-armando-abrego-garcia-senator-chris-van-hollen-meets-mistakenly-maryland-deported-man-el-salvador-immigration-donald-trump-administration
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