In a significant move that underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding U.S. immigration policy, four Democratic lawmakers traveled to El Salvador on April 21, 2025, to advocate for the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was wrongfully deported last month. U.S. Representatives Maxwell Frost of Florida, Robert Garcia of California, Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, and Maxine Dexter of Oregon are spearheading efforts to pressure the Trump administration to comply with a recent Supreme Court ruling that mandates Abrego Garcia's return to the United States.
Abrego Garcia, who lived legally in the U.S. for approximately 14 years, was deported to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center on March 15, 2025, after immigration officials claimed he was a member of the violent MS-13 gang. However, he has denied these allegations and has never been charged with any gang-related crimes. The Trump administration has since admitted that his deportation was an “administrative error,” yet officials have refused to facilitate his return, arguing that it is up to the Salvadoran government.
“Trump is defying a Supreme Court order to bring Kilmar home,” Rep. Robert Garcia stated from El Salvador, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. “We know others are being deported and held with no due process. This must end.” The lawmakers are expected to meet with U.S. Embassy officials and local advocates to gather information about Abrego Garcia’s condition and push for his release.
Frost has been particularly vocal about the implications of Abrego Garcia’s case, labeling it a “government-funded kidnapping program” orchestrated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “As Members of Congress, it is our responsibility to hold the President and Administration accountable for defying the Constitution of the United States,” Frost asserted. “Today it’s Kilmar, but tomorrow it could be anyone else. We cannot and will not let Donald Trump get away with this.”
The congressional delegation follows a unanimous ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which backed a lower court’s order to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s release from custody. However, the ruling included a caveat stating that the District of Maryland court’s order might exceed its authority, prompting the need for clarification regarding the limits of judicial power over executive actions.
In a related development, the President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, has publicly stated that he lacks the authority to return Abrego Garcia, describing the idea of smuggling a “terrorist” into the U.S. as “preposterous.” This has further complicated the situation, as U.S. officials maintain that the responsibility lies with El Salvador.
Abrego Garcia’s family has expressed deep concern for his well-being. “We are particularly concerned about Kilmar’s health and hope to receive news about that from the visit,” they stated in a message shared by Rep. Garcia. This sentiment was echoed by Dexter, who described the case as a “constitutional crisis” that should outrage all Americans. “What happened to Kilmar Abrego Garcia is not just one family’s nightmare — it is a constitutional crisis that should outrage every single one of us,” she said.
The lawmakers’ trip is not being financed by taxpayer dollars, as House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, denied their request for an official congressional delegation to cover the visit’s costs. In a letter, Comer criticized the Democrats for seeking funding while displaying “active hostility” toward the committee’s oversight of immigration issues under the Biden administration.
Despite the refusal of official funding, the lawmakers are determined to continue their advocacy. They plan to meet with local advocates and officials to ensure that Abrego Garcia’s case remains in the public eye and to highlight the broader implications of due process in immigration enforcement.
Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland was the first U.S. legislator to visit Abrego Garcia after his deportation. He met with both Abrego Garcia and Salvadoran officials, emphasizing that the case transcends individual circumstances and speaks to the constitutional rights of all individuals residing in the U.S. “It’s about protecting the constitutional rights of everybody who resides in the United States,” Van Hollen stated.
As the lawmakers continue their efforts in El Salvador, the issue of due process remains at the forefront of the national conversation regarding immigration policy. Critics of the Trump administration’s approach argue that the handling of Abrego Garcia’s case exemplifies a troubling trend of circumventing legal protections for immigrants.
House Republicans have continued to link Abrego Garcia to gang activity, despite a federal judge’s dismissal of such claims due to a lack of evidence. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has stated that if Abrego Garcia were to return to the U.S., he would “immediately be deported again.” This stance has only intensified the scrutiny of the administration’s immigration policies and their adherence to judicial rulings.
As the situation unfolds, the four Democratic lawmakers remain committed to advocating for Abrego Garcia and others like him who have faced deportation without due process. Their presence in El Salvador serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight for justice and the protection of constitutional rights in the face of an increasingly contentious immigration landscape.
