Late on Thursday, Sen. Chris Van Hollen was able to visit with Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Abrego Garcia was unlawfully taken to El Salvador without due process last month. The administration admitted he was not an MS-13 member as earlier alleged but has not made efforts to return him to the United States since he was abducted in March. He is currently housed at the notorious maximum-security prison, CECOT.
Van Hollen posted the following on Facebook: “I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return.”
Earlier in the day, Van Hollen and a lawyer for Abrego Garcia’s wife and mother were denied access to the prison.
Here is a video they posted on YouTube.
This is the first time anyone has been able to communicate with Abrego Garcia since he was abducted. Van Hollen says this is in violation of international law according to human rights covenants agreed to by the country of El Salvador. One treaty includes the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). According to the rights assigned to prisoners by the Covenant, imprisoned persons are entitled to communication with their legal counsel.
Once a hotbed of gang violence, El Salvador has brought much of its gang violence under control in the past several years. But human rights organizations have often raised concerns about the methods used during this suppression of gang domination.
Van Hollen returns to Washington on Friday.
