In a stunning display of misplaced priorities, Democrat Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD) flew all the way to El Salvador to demand the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported MS-13 gang member, only to be soundly rejected by Salvadoran officials. Van Hollen, who seems more concerned with coddling violent criminals than protecting American citizens, attempted to paint Garcia as a victim, claiming he was “illegally abducted” and needed to “come home.” But let’s be clear—Garcia is home. El Salvador is his native country, and Van Hollen’s shameless attempt to smuggle him back into the U.S. is nothing short of an insult to law-abiding Americans.
Upon landing in San Salvador, Van Hollen announced, “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. I also hope to meet with Salvadoran officials and with Kilmar himself. He was illegally abducted and needs to come home.”
But his grandstanding quickly crumbled when El Salvador’s Vice President refused to meet with him. The liberal media won’t tell you this, but Van Hollen’s stunt was nothing more than a desperate attempt to undermine President Trump’s successful immigration policies. While Democrats fight for violent gang members, Trump is fighting to keep Americans safe.
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.
I also hope to meet with Salvadoran officials and with Kilmar himself. He was illegally abducted and needs to come home. pic.twitter.com/MzKe7U8Wwr
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) April 16, 2025
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Biden administration must facilitate Garcia’s return, but as Trump’s DOJ rightly 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 other words, activist judges like Obama-appointed Paula Xinis can’t force the U.S. to kidnap a criminal from another country.
Xinis, who has repeatedly attacked the Trump administration, demanded “daily updates” on Garcia’s whereabouts, accusing officials of making “no meaningful effort to comply” with her order. But President Trump doesn’t answer to rogue judges—he answers to the American people. And the American people don’t want MS-13 terrorists roaming their streets.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, a strong leader who has cracked down on gangs in his own country, made it clear he won’t be bullied by U.S. Democrats. While Van Hollen groveled for a meeting, Bukele stood firm, refusing to release a known gang member back into American communities.
NEW: Maryland Senator @ChrisVanHollen says his request made to the VP of El Salvador to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia was denied.
The senator said he was told by the Vice President "you need to make earlier provisions to visit CECOT.”
Van Hollen says he wasn’t able to meet with… pic.twitter.com/FRBYuutcNY
— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) April 16, 2025
Meanwhile, the liberal media continues to push their pro-open borders agenda, painting criminals as victims and patriots as villains. But under President Trump’s leadership, the U.S. will not be strong-armed into importing violence.