This is from the Senator’s Live video posted to his YouTube channel earlier today. You can watch the original video here:
I removed the parts where the Spanish interpreter was talking and cut down filler words to trim this from a 25-minute video.
Here’s a summary:
Senator Chris Van Hollen met with the Vice President of El Salvador to advocate for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who was legally living in the U.S. with protected status and a work permit. Years ago, an immigration judge ruled that returning him to El Salvador would put his life in danger.
Despite this, the Trump administration forcibly deported Abrego Garcia and sent him to CECOT, a high-security prison in El Salvador known for housing violent criminals, without evidence or legal justification. U.S. federal courts—including a Supreme Court ruling with a 9-0 decision—have since confirmed that the government acted without legal authority and ordered his return.
Senator Van Hollen emphasized:
Abrego Garcia has no ties to MS-13, despite the Trump administration’s false claims.
A federal court found no criminal charges or evidence against him.
A Department of Justice attorney admitted it was an administrative mistake, and that lawyer was later punished by the Trump administration.
El Salvador continues to hold him, reportedly because the Trump administration is paying them to do so, with a $15 million deal in the works.
The U.S. embassy has received no direction to carry out the court’s order to bring him home.
Van Hollen called on El Salvador to release Abrego Garcia immediately, criticizing both governments for enabling an unjust and illegal detention. He also pledged to continue advocating for his release and to bring congressional attention to the case.
TAKE ACTION
You can call your representatives and ask them to help rescue Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador.
Don’t know who your representatives are? Click this link to visit Common Cause and enter your address: https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/addr/
Here is a script provided by 5calls.org
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP].
I’m calling to urge [REP/SEN NAME] to join Senator Van Hollen and work to rescue Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador. I also ask that [REP/SEN NAME]…
[Pick 1-3 actions:]
forcefully speak out against Trump’s unconstitutional plan to send US citizens, which he calls "homegrown criminals," to a foreign gulag, (and)
demand a complete shutdown of all detainees being sent to foreign prisons, (and)
hold the administration accountable for defying orders by the Supreme Court by filing articles of impeachment for Trump and other Cabinet officials responsible for this unconstitutional act.
If the Trump administration is able to traffic an innocent man like Abrego Garcia to a foreign gulag, they will be emboldened to do the same to others. This terrifying and evil practice needs to be stopped now.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
IF LEAVING VOICEMAIL: Please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied.
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