Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, standing in front of a backdrop of palm trees, posted a video to social media with an update on his trip to El Salvador on Wednesday.
The Democratic lawmaker hopes to get answers about the wrongful deportation of a Maryland migrant, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, by the Trump administration.
Van Hollen said he’s had “back-to-back meetings” in the country — with members of the American Embassy and human rights groups. He also mentioned again his meeting with the vice president of El Salvador.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen speaks during a press conference in Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador, April 16, 2025.
Marvin Recinos/AFP via Getty Images
“And the entire purpose has been to bring Abrego Garcia home,” the senator said.
Van Hollen also said that he called the government of El Salvador to provide evidence that Abrego Garcia was involved in MS-13 — they could not.
“They said they had no evidence,” he claimed.
“So this is not about MS-13. I know President Trump wants to make this about gang violence. I have been fighting MS-13, probably longer than Donald Trump even knew about MS- 13. I care about every victim of crime. That’s why we have a court system to hold people accountable when they commit crimes, to make sure they get the punishment they deserve,” Van Hollen said.
-ABC News’ Isabella Murray
