Senator Meets Alleged MS-13 Gang Member in El Salvador Prison—Backlash Erupts Over Shocking Visit

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador this week to meet with deported inmate Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man accused of gang ties and repeated domestic violence. Despite initial denials, Van Hollen ultimately met with Garcia, who remains in the custody of El Salvador’s high-security CECOT prison. U.S. courts have ordered the Trump administration to facilitate Garcia’s return for proper deportation proceedings, though El Salvador has signaled he will not be released. The visit has sparked sharp political reactions amid allegations surrounding Garcia’s past.