Democrats Plan El Salvador Trip Demanding Kilmar Abrego Garcia's Release

Democratic lawmakers, led by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, are pushing for the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident wrongfully deported to a maximum security prison in El Salvador. Van Hollen plans to visit El Salvador if Abrego Garcia is not returned by midweek, aiming to meet with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and assess Garcia's situation. Reps. Maxwell Frost and Robert Garcia have also requested a congressional delegation to visit the prison where Garcia is held, highlighting concerns over his welfare and the conditions in which he is detained. The White House maintains that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang and poses a danger to the U.S., asserting he will not be allowed to return. Family members and supporters argue he is not affiliated with the gang and should not have been deported, citing a judge's protective order against such action. The situation has drawn significant attention amidst broader discussions on immigration policy and deportation practices under the Trump administration.