Senator Chris Van Hollen said on X: “I’ve been clear: if President Bukele doesn’t want to meet here in D.C., then I intend to go to El Salvador this week to check on Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s condition and discuss his release. Kilmar was illegally ABDUCTED and deported by the Trump Admin. He must be brought home NOW.”

Senator Chris Van Hollen’s recent controversy stems from his advocacy for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident deported to El Salvador in March 2025, despite a 2019 court order granting him protection from deportation. Van Hollen has pushed for Garcia’s return, citing an illegal deportation and lack of due process, as supported by a Supreme Court ruling ordering the Trump administration to facilitate Garcia’s return.

The Trump administration and some critics, including posts on X, claim Garcia is affiliated with MS-13, a violent gang, based on past allegations like wearing a Chicago Bulls hat and a confidential witness’s testimony. Garcia’s attorneys deny these claims, asserting he has no gang ties, is a sheet metal apprentice, and is married to a U.S. citizen. Van Hollen’s stance appears focused on legal rights and court rulings, not endorsing gang activity.

For example, he stated, “It is absolutely unjust and illegal to have this Marylander detained one more day in a notorious prison in El Salvador,” emphasizing judicial overreach rather than gang support. Critics argue his efforts prioritize an alleged criminal over constituents, but these claims lack substantiation beyond the disputed Garcia case. Van Hollen’s broader record shows support for law enforcement funding and crime prevention, like backing FBI investigations into violent crime, which contradicts blanket gang support.