Sen. Chris Van Hollen met Thursday night with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, confirming the deported MS-13 gang suspect is alive after a month of incarceration in El Salvador’s terrorist prison.
The Maryland Democrat posted a photo of his meeting to social media showing Mr. Abrego Garcia in a ball cap, a colorful button-down shirt and blue jeans, looking healthy as they chatted at a table over drinks.
“I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance,” Mr. Van Hollen said. “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 had spent the last day and a half pushing for the meeting, only to be denied by the Salvadoran government, which said he hadn’t submitted a proper request.
It’s not clear what changed, but President Nayib Bukele posted his own images of the meeting to social media Thursday saying the confab proved Mr. Abrego Garcia was alive and well.
“Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the ‘death camps’ & ‘torture,’ now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!” Mr. Bukele said, adding a margarita emoji to his post.
He also reiterated his stance that Mr. Abrego Garcia will remain in El Salvador.
“Now that he’s been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvador’s custody,” the president said, with emojis of American and Salvadoran flags flanking a handshake emoji.
Mr. Abrego Garcia has become the focal point of the most intense fight of the new Trump administration, with Mr. Van Hollen leader a cadre of Democrats in demanding the man — whom the U.S. government has labeled an “MS-13 terrorist” — be brought back to the U.S.
New documents released earlier this week show that Mr. Abrego Garcia’s wife, who is now begging for his return, accused him of beating her four years ago. Jennifer Vasquez said he punched and scratched her, tore her clothes and left her bruised.
An immigration judge also found Mr. Abrego Garcia was a member of MS-13, citing a confidential police source report that identified him by his gang nickname and rank.
U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, who has ordered the government to try to get Mr. Abrego Garcia back, has discounted the MS-13 ties, saying that evidence wasn’t presented in her courtroom this year.
Before his meeting Thursday, Mr. Van Hollen took a more circumspect approach to the case, saying he’s not trying to referee the facts.
He said his goal is to make sure a former constituent of his — Mr. Abrego Garcia had been in Maryland when he was arrested last month — gets another day in court.
“I am here not to vouch for any particular set of facts,” Mr. Van Hollen said. “I am here to vouch for the judicial system in the United States, which guarantees individuals the right to due process.”
