In a bold and heartfelt move, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland is flying to El Salvador today (Wednesday, April 16) in an effort to secure the safe return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a longtime Maryland resident who was wrongfully deported under the Trump administration.
Abrego Garcia, who has lived in Maryland for over a decade, is married to a U.S. citizen and is the father of U.S.-born children. According to Van Hollen, the deportation was not only unjust—it was illegal. “Mr. Abrego Garcia was illegally abducted by the Trump Administration and, by their own admission, wrongly deported to El Salvador. He shouldn’t have to spend another second away from his family,” Van Hollen said in a public statement.
Last week, Van Hollen and fellow Maryland Senator Angela Alsobrooks met with Abrego Garcia’s family, offering their support and promising action. Today’s mission is Van Hollen’s fulfillment of that promise—traveling personally to El Salvador to check on Garcia’s wellbeing and initiate discussions about his return to the U.S.
The senator’s journey has sparked widespread attention and concern. Constituents and activists have voiced support, encouraging others to call their own representatives in Congress and urge them to stand behind Van Hollen. Many have also expressed hope that this case could serve as a precedent in the fight for due process for those wrongfully deported during the previous administration.
Security concerns have been raised, with some drawing parallels to historic moments like the tragic death of Congressman Leo Ryan in Jonestown. But supporters are confident Van Hollen is taking necessary precautions. The stakes are high—any harm to a U.S. senator abroad could escalate into a major international incident. Still, many believe the Senator’s courage could help reset the standard for human rights and accountability.
A powerful moment took place just before Van Hollen’s departure, when over 1,500 constituents at a Hagerstown town hall gave him a standing ovation. As one audience member shouted, “Be sure you get back safely!” the energy in the room reflected a community both concerned and proud.
As of this morning, Senator Van Hollen is en route to El Salvador, with a nation watching—and hoping—he brings Kilmar Abrego Garcia back home where he belongs.
