Kilmar Abrego Garcia remains in El Salvador prison

Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen on Thursday met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who is being held in an El Salvador prison for over a month. Van Hollen is in the country advocating for the release of Abrego Garcia. He said he has been barred from approaching the CECOT prison – essentially a terrorist confinement center – in San Salvador where Garcia is being held. Trump administration officials on Monday dismissed efforts to bring Garcia back, saying the decision rested with El Salvador. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele also said Monday he lacked the authority to authorize Garcia’s return, calling the idea "preposterous" and likening it to an attempt to "smuggle a terrorist into the country." Abrego Garcia was deported last month following 2019 accusations by Maryland police that he was an MS-13 gang member. Garcia denied the claim and was never charged with a crime, according to his attorneys. A federal judge ruled Garcia should be allowed back, a decision unanimously upheld by the Supreme Court last week.