Senator Chris Van Hollen’s El Salvador Trip Backfires in Attempt to Retrieve Deported MS-13 Gang Member
A Failed Political Stunt Meets Firm Foreign Resistance
Democrat Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) embarked on what many are calling a tone-deaf international photo op, flying to El Salvador this week in a failed attempt to meet with and retrieve Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 gang member currently incarcerated in the country’s maximum-security CECOT prison.
Garcia, a Salvadoran national who illegally resided in Maryland, was deported by the Trump administration after two separate court rulings confirmed his membership in MS-13, which the U.S. has designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The Supreme Court recently ruled that the U.S. must “facilitate” his return, but left it to the Trump administration to interpret what “facilitate” entails — and President Trump’s DOJ has made clear that El Salvador is under no obligation to release Garcia.
Van Hollen: “He Was Illegally Abducted”
Upon landing in San Salvador, Van Hollen declared in a video message:
“I just landed in San Salvador a little while ago, and I look forward to meeting with the team at the U.S. embassy to discuss the release of Mr. Abrego Garcia… He was illegally abducted and needs to come home.”
The senator’s comments sparked widespread backlash for their misrepresentation of Garcia’s legal status. Garcia is not a U.S. citizen and had been ordered deported by an immigration judge in 2019. He is now home in El Salvador.
El Salvador Rejects Van Hollen’s Meeting Request
Van Hollen’s visit was met with a firm diplomatic rebuke. He requested a meeting with El Salvador’s Vice President, which was flatly denied. According to Van Hollen, the response was:
“You need to make earlier provisions to visit CECOT.”
He also failed to meet with Garcia himself or any high-ranking Salvadoran officials.
This firm rejection aligns with President Nayib Bukele’s earlier comments in which he mocked the idea of returning a terrorist to the United States, stating bluntly that El Salvador will not assist in bringing a violent gang member back to American soil.
DOJ: Courts Can’t Force Foreign Diplomacy
Despite pressure from Obama-appointed Judge Paula Xinis, the Trump administration has held the line. In court filings, the Department of Justice argued:
“Federal courts have no authority to direct the Executive Branch to conduct foreign relations in a particular way or engage with a foreign sovereign in a given manner.”
In essence, the court cannot force the U.S. government to demand or compel another sovereign nation — in this case, El Salvador — to release a known gang member or turn him over.
Media Silence on Garcia’s Violent History
While Democrats and media figures refer to Garcia as a “Maryland man” or “father of three,” recent revelations paint a far darker picture:
- Two separate protective orders for domestic violence filed by Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez, in 2020 and 2021.
- Multiple gang field reports confirm Garcia’s active status and rank within MS-13.
- He was previously arrested alongside other known gang members and wore identifiable gang symbols during his arrest.
Despite this overwhelming evidence, the media and Democratic politicians continue to portray Garcia as a victim of unjust deportation.
Trump Administration Stands Firm: “He’s Not Coming Back”
Attorney General Pam Bondi and Trump administration officials have made it clear: Garcia will not be brought back into the country.
“He is an illegal alien, affiliated with a foreign terrorist organization, and he is not coming back to our country,” Bondi stated unequivocally last week.
Conclusion
Senator Van Hollen’s political gamble to retrieve a convicted gang member has backfired both diplomatically and publicly. His trip not only failed to gain any concessions from El Salvador but also amplified concerns that some lawmakers are prioritizing political theater over public safety and national sovereignty.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration and El Salvador remain united in their refusal to allow a dangerous gang member to reenter the United States. The message from both governments is crystal clear:
Terrorists do not belong on American soil.