Senator Chris Van Hollen visited El Salvador to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man illegally imprisoned there by the Trump administration despite a Supreme Court order for his return. Van Hollen’s meeting revealed Abrego Garcia’s detention in harsh conditions at CECOT, a notorious prison, with the Salvadoran government admitting to holding him due to US payments. The Trump administration’s claims of Abrego Garcia’s gang affiliation are contradicted by a federal judge’s ruling and the appeals court’s condemnation of the administration’s actions as lawless. Van Hollen exposed attempts by Salvadoran President Bukele to stage a misleading image of Abrego Garcia’s well-being.
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Following days of uncertainty, Senator Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego García in El Salvador, as confirmed by photos posted by President Bukele. The meeting occurred after the Senator’s earlier attempt to visit Abrego García in prison was denied. This visit followed a Supreme Court ruling ordering Abrego García’s return to the U.S., a ruling the Trump administration and Bukele have resisted, citing unsubstantiated claims of MS-13 affiliation. Despite these ongoing disputes, Senator Van Hollen relayed a message of love to Abrego Garcia’s wife.
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Following his deportation to El Salvador and imprisonment, Senator Chris Van Hollen visited Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia in prison. The Senator confirmed Abrego Garcia’s well-being, relaying a message to his wife, Jennifer Vasquez. Despite this confirmation, President Bukele has refused to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S., echoing statements from President Trump and defying court rulings mandating repatriation. The situation highlights the ongoing dispute over Abrego Garcia’s deportation and the differing stances of U.S. and El Salvadoran officials.
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President Bukele refused to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States, defying a Supreme Court order compelling his repatriation. Bukele, meeting with President Trump, argued that returning Abrego Garcia, who was deported due to an administrative error, was impossible and would undermine El Salvador’s security gains. The Trump administration, while acknowledging the error, similarly claimed a lack of legal obligation to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return. The Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s order, demanding updates on the situation from the administration. Despite this, Bukele asserted he would not comply.
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El Salvador concluded 2024 with a record-low 114 homicides, a dramatic decrease from 2015’s 6,656 and even 2023’s 214. This reduction follows a second year under a state of emergency granting the government extensive powers, leading to over 83,000 arrests. While this has significantly improved public safety and boosted President Bukele’s popularity, concerns remain regarding human rights violations and the continued justification for the state of emergency. The drastic security improvements, however, have undeniably transformed daily life for many Salvadorans.
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El Salvador has garnered significant attention recently due to the election victory of Nayib Bukele, the millennial president who has been labeled the “world’s coolest dictator.” Bukele’s fiery victory speech, in which he boasted that El Salvador would be the first country with “a one-party system in a democracy,” has raised concerns about the country’s democratic future. On one hand, Bukele’s popularity stems from his successful war on gangs, which has greatly improved the safety and security of the country. However, his critics accuse him of stifling the courts and silencing opposition, leading to fears of an authoritarian regime.
It is crucial to understand the context in which Bukele emerged as a popular figure.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker