Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) traveled to El Salvador this week to meet Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old illegal immigrant deported from Maryland to a high-security prison in El Salvador.

After repeated denials, Van Hollen was finally allowed to visit Garcia on Thursday night.

U.S. courts had ruled Garcia’s deportation was an administrative error and ordered his return, but El Salvador has refused to release him.

The Trump administration claims Garcia is an MS-13 gang member and abuser, citing documents from Homeland Security and a 2021 domestic violence complaint by his wife, Fox News has reported.

A federal appeals court denied the DOJ’s request to block Garcia’s return, but El Salvador continues to hold him.

Written by B.C. Begley