Four House Democrats were scheduled to arrive in El Salvador on Monday to call for the release and return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen residing in Maryland who was deported by the Trump administration due to what it termed an “administrative error.” The delegation, consisting of Representatives Robert Garcia from California, Maxwell Frost from Florida, Yassamin Ansari from Arizona, and Maxine Dexter from Oregon, issued a statement expressing their intention to “pressure” the White House to comply with a Supreme Court order.
Rep. Robert Garcia stated that while former President Donald Trump continues to defy the Supreme Court, Kilmar Abrego Garcia is being unlawfully detained in El Salvador following his wrongful deportation. He emphasized that their presence is a reminder that the wrongful deportation of immigrants without due process is not representative of American practices.
Despite a Supreme Court order to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return, the Trump administration has resisted his repatriation, attracting bipartisan criticism. An immigration judge concluded that Abrego Garcia should not be deported, as he demonstrated a likelihood of persecution in his home country. The Trump administration claimed his deportation was justified due to alleged MS-13 gang affiliation, a claim his lawyers refute.
The White House stated that it cannot compel the Salvadoran government to release its citizen, while El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele dismissed the notion of Abrego Garcia’s release as “preposterous.” On Thursday, a federal court rejected the Trump administration’s appeal against the return order.
Last week, Representatives Garcia and Frost requested congressional funds and security for their trip to El Salvador, but Rep. James Comer, the Kentucky Republican and chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, denied the request. Rep. Mark Green, the Tennessee Republican chairing the House Homeland Security Committee, also indicated he would deny such requests. It has been noted that the group’s visit to El Salvador is not part of a taxpayer-funded congressional delegation (CODEL) trip.
This visit by House Democrats follows a series of bipartisan visits by U.S. government officials to El Salvador. In early February, Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Salvadoran President Bukele. In March, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem met with Bukele and visited the CECOT facility. In April, Rep. Riley Moore from West Virginia also visited the mega-prison. Recently, Senator Chris Van Hollen from Maryland met with Abrego Garcia.
