Interesting line-up:

As of April 18, 2025, several U.S. elected officials have taken actions concerning Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who was deported to El Salvador despite legal protections against such removal. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/democratic-senator-heads-el-salvador-find-man-deported/story?id=120865596

Officials Advocating for Abrego Garcia

• Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD): Senator Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to advocate for Abrego Garcia’s release. Initially denied access to the prison, he eventually met with Abrego Garcia and condemned the deportation as a violation of due process and international law. https://apnews.com/article/abrego-garcia-el-salvador-trump-deportation-van-hollen-senator-81cca0ac24a9a312be97c730679f8dd1

• Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ): Senator Booker has expressed interest in visiting El Salvador to support efforts for Abrego Garcia’s release. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/maryland-senator-says-he-was-denied-entry-to-el-salvador-prison-holding-abrego-garcia

• Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-NY): Rep. Espaillat announced plans to write to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele requesting Abrego Garcia’s release and has expressed a desire to visit the detention center.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deportation_of_Kilmar_Abrego_Garcia

• Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX): Rep. Castro has called for accountability from President Bukele regarding the imprisonment of Abrego Garcia and others, referring to the detention facilities as “gulags” and “torture prisons.”  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deportation_of_Kilmar_Abrego_Garcia

• Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH): Senator Shaheen has requested that the administration provide any written agreements made with the Salvadoran government concerning this issue.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deportation_of_Kilmar_Abrego_Garcia

Officials Supporting the Deportation

• Representative Riley Moore (R-WV): Rep. Moore visited the Salvadoran prison where Abrego Garcia is held, expressing support for the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Maryland senator says he was denied entry to El Salvador prison holding Abrego Garcia | PBS News

• Representative Jason Smith (R-MO): Rep. Smith toured the prison and praised its role in housing individuals deported from the U.S. Maryland senator says he was denied entry to El Salvador prison holding Abrego Garcia | PBS News

• Vice President JD Vance: Vice President Vance has publicly supported the deportation, labeling Abrego Garcia as a gang member, despite a lack of formal charges. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deportation_of_Kilmar_Abrego_Garcia

• Attorney General Pam Bondi: Attorney General Bondi has defended the deportation, citing alleged affiliations with MS-13, though these claims have not been substantiated in court. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/democratic-senator-heads-el-salvador-find-man-deported/story?id=120865596

The situation remains a contentious issue, highlighting divisions over immigration policy and the enforcement of judicial decisions.US senator says Kilmar Abrego Garcia case is about far more than one man | AP News

Jennifer Vasquez Sura, the wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia was asked about her Temporary Restraining Order in 2021 against Garcia, during a media appearance, but her video froze and she acted as if she did not hear the question. https://x.com/EndWokeness/status/1913285648359829945

She later has issued a statement regarding her TRO in 2021, “No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect.” https://x.com/NewsiesNeighbor/status/1913064880162349522/photo/1

El Salvador President Bukele has posted on this matter and it is really good! Garcia will stay in El Salvador! https://x.com/nayibbukele/status/1913035243918864742

Americans and especially Marylanders, should check the cost of Van Hollen’s plane ticket because you are footing this flight bill from Washington Dulles to San Salvador, El Salvador. From our perspective, as this develops, the worst political fallout will be a toss-up between showing up on the manifest of a flight to San Salvador or Epstein’s Lolita Express.

Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo