Earlier this week, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Kilmar Ábrego García during his visit to El Salvador. He was a steadfast champion of García’s repatriation to the United States. Ábrego García, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, has emerged as a central figure in a longstanding national immigration debate. This came on the heels of his deportation by the Trump administration in March — after having once called Maryland home. The senator’s visit underscores ongoing concerns regarding the treatment of individuals in similar situations and the implications of U.S. immigration policies.
Ábrego García is said to be linked to the infamous MS-13 gang, as Trump administration officials claimed during a 2017 announcement that the administration would combat “illegal immigrant crime.” His lawyers argue that there’s been no evidence offered to back up these claims. In addition to these flaws, they note that Ábrego García has never been criminally charged with participating in MS-13 activity.
In March, an immigration court order temporarily barring his deportation was in place, yet federal authorities removed him despite the order. Since his arrest, Ábrego García has been charged with terrorism under the anti-terrorism law, formally detained at Cecot prison, a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. His family and legal representatives have repeatedly expressed concern for his safety. They say they have been unable to reach him since his deportation.
As these cases move through the pipeline, Senator Van Hollen made clear that due process and legal rights must be afforded to everyone facing deportation. He continued, “We are going to fight until Kilmar gets his due process rights honored. That loss of contact with Ábrego García has set off a fire alarm among his supporters. There has been no capacity for anyone to learn anything about his health and wellbeing,” said Van Hollen.
The senator’s visit comes amid criticism from some Democratic leaders who have labeled Ábrego García’s deportation as a harsh consequence of the Trump administration’s disregard for legal processes. They contend that these punitive actions are symptomatic of deeper trends in U.S. immigration policy that harm the most vulnerable.
Ábrego García’s attorneys at the Center for American Freedom and Equality are already working to see him safely returned to the United States. They claim that international law provides him the right to communicate with his lawyers. This legal fight shines a light on the unfortunate realities and demands put upon those who inadvertently become trapped in our immigration system.
As of this writing, Ábrego García’s health and general wellbeing are still unknown to his family or legal representatives. The lack of communication has caused Sean to be more anxious about his treatment at the Cecot facility.
Even as many political leaders support the strengthening and militarization of immigration policies, more and more leaders challenge these policies on moral and legal grounds. Jason Smith, a representative supporting these measures, stated that “thanks to President Trump” the facility “now includes illegal immigrants who broke into our country and committed violent acts against Americans.” This kind of rhetoric is a great example of how demonizing immigrants has become a theme in popular immigration discourse during today’s political milieu.