Democratic Lawmakers Push to Bring Back Wrongfully Deported Marylander from El Salvador

A growing number of Democratic lawmakers, led by Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, are preparing to travel to El Salvador to secure the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident the U.S. Department of Justice acknowledges was mistakenly deported. Their efforts gained urgency after El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, during a White House meeting with former President Donald Trump, made it clear he would not facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return.

Sen. Van Hollen sent a formal letter to El Salvador’s U.S. ambassador on Monday, requesting a direct meeting with President Bukele. He stated that if Abrego Garcia had not returned to the U.S. by midweek, he would travel to El Salvador to assess the detainee’s condition and negotiate his release.

The move has rallied support from other Democratic voices. Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida posted on X that he would join the senator and help organize other House members to participate in the mission. Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona also expressed her readiness to travel, echoing the call for action.

Abrego Garcia’s deportation has sparked backlash after officials admitted he should never have been sent to El Salvador. A 2019 immigration court ruling had prohibited his removal due to credible fears of persecution. The Supreme Court recently ordered the administration to facilitate his return, intensifying pressure on both U.S. and Salvadoran leaders.

Despite that ruling, President Bukele dismissed the notion of cooperating with the return, suggesting it would be akin to smuggling someone across the border. “Of course I’m not going to do it,” he told reporters, brushing off concerns about international obligations.

The White House, for its part, has remained quiet on the matter, as former President Trump continues to promote his hardline immigration legacy, including deportations tied to alleged gang affiliations and use of the rarely cited Alien Enemies Act—now mired in legal disputes.

Van Hollen remains hopeful. “I don’t think [Bukele] wants to be remembered as the president who kidnapped a U.S. resident,” he said. He emphasized that detaining Abrego Garcia another day is both illegal and unjust, and reiterated his commitment to engaging with El Salvador’s leadership directly if necessary.