U.S. Senator Van Hollen says he met wrongly deported man in El Salvador

Senator Van Hollen meets wrongly deported man in El Salvador, sparking controversy with Salvadoran officials.

Democratic U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen said on Thursday (April 17, 2025) said he met Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man wrongly deported to El Salvador by the administration of Republican President Donald Trump.

The senator posted an image of himself with Abrego Garcia on the social media platform X.

"I said my main goal of this trip (to El Salvador) was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return," the senator wrote in his post.

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On Wednesday, Van Hollen said authorities in El Salvador had denied him access to Abrego Garcia, who has been held in a notorious prison for gang members.

Van Hollen, the senior senator from Maryland where Abrego Garcia lived, arrived in El Salvador on Wednesday to meet with senior officials and advocate for Abrego Garcia's release, but was told by El Salvador's Vice President Felix Ulloa that he could not authorize a visit or a call with Abrego Garcia.

It was not immediately clear what changed that allowed the Senator access.