Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland has made it clear that his support is focused on protecting Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s legal rights, not on defending his personal character.
When asked about the Trump administration’s accusations linking Garcia to the MS-13 gang, Van Hollen explained that his concern lies with ensuring the man receives proper due process under the law.
During his appearance on Fox News Sunday on April 20, Van Hollen clarified his position by stating that he does not endorse the individual himself but is instead standing up for the man’s rights as guaranteed by the Constitution.
Meeting With Abrego Garcia in El Salvador
Just last week, Van Hollen flew to El Salvador to have a direct conversation with Abrego Garcia. This visit came after the Salvadoran authorities initially blocked him, although the senator eventually met with the 29-year-old man on April 17.
The White House had admitted that Garcia’s deportation in March happened because of what they called “an administrative error.”
Even though the trip faced early obstacles, Van Hollen persisted and completed the visit. Garcia was removed from the United States even though he was not charged with any crime, and his family insists that the gang claims are false.
According to documents released by President Donald Trump’s administration, officials believe Garcia has ties to MS-13, which they have now labeled a terrorist group. The White House has refused calls to return him to the U.S., despite the Supreme Court’s instruction that the administration must arrange his return.
Authorities under Trump claim they lack the legal ability to retrieve someone from another nation’s prison system.
Continued Legal Dispute and Human Rights Concerns
After being transferred from El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, Abrego Garcia was moved to a different detention facility. The senator has since called on U.S. authorities to bring him back so that his case can move forward within American legal institutions.
Van Hollen stated during his interview with Shannon Bream that if the administration believes there is solid proof against Garcia, they should bring it before a judge. He criticized the public release of accusations without submitting them to proper legal testing in court.
He explained further that the core problem lies in the administration’s refusal to follow orders issued by the courts. According to him, denying Garcia his rights sets a dangerous precedent that could affect every citizen’s constitutional protections.
Statements from Both Sides
The government has cited a redacted gang report from 2019 and another unedited document from 2021, which includes a protective order reportedly filed by Garcia’s wife due to a domestic issue. Officials are using these materials to justify his removal.
During a briefing held on April 16, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took a firm position. She declared that Abrego Garcia should not be viewed as a Maryland father, as some have claimed.
Instead, she described him as a foreign terrorist, an undocumented person, and a gang member who had been sent back to his home country.
