Van Hollen Requests Meeting with President Bukele to Discuss Return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia; Announces Intent to Travel to El Salvador This Week if Abrego Garcia is Not Returned

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has requested a meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele while he is in the United States this week in order to discuss the return of Maryland father Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia. Senator Van Hollen is also announcing his intent to travel to El Salvador this week if Abrego Garcia is not returned by then.

“Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia never should have been abducted and illegally deported, and the courts have made clear: the Administration must bring him home, now. However, since the Trump Administration appears to be ignoring these court mandates, we need to take additional action. That’s why I’ve requested to meet with President Bukele during his trip to the United States, and – if Kilmar is not home by midweek – I plan to travel to El Salvador this week to check on his condition and discuss his release,” said Senator Van Hollen

The text of the Senator’s letter to Salvadoran Ambassador Milena Mayorga requesting a meeting with President Bukele is available here and below.

Dear Ambassador Mayorga:

I write to urgently request a meeting with President Bukele during his current visit to the United States to discuss the illegal detention of my constituent, Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Mr. Abrego Garcia was wrongly deported to a prison in El Salvador. On Saturday evening in a court filing to a federal judge in Maryland, the Trump Administration confirmed that Kilmar Abrego Garcia is being held in El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center according to Michael G. Kozak, a senior official in the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. However, they did not detail steps that have been taken to facilitate his return, as mandated by the Supreme Court.

I have met with Mr. Abrego Garcia’s wife, mother and brother and, as you can imagine, they are extremely worried about his health, safety, and continued illegal confinement, as am I.

I look forward to your response.