US: Trump says will 'pass' on Ukraine talks if too difficult
04/19/2025April 19, 2025US Senator Chris Van Hollen (right) says his meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia (left) at a hotel was stagedImage: Press Office Senator Van Hollen/AP Photo/picture allianceUS Senator Chris Van Hollen said that he met Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, at a hotel.
The Democratic senator spoke to reporters just after landing back in the United States following his three-day trip to El Salvador to press for Abrego Garcia's release.
Van Hollen said the case "is not only about one man," but also about President Donald Trump’s disregard of the American judicial system.
Van Hollen said Abrego Garcia was brought to his hotel after the senator attempted to visit the man, who has been imprisoned in El Salvador since he was sent there on March 16.
Van Hollen accused El Salvador of trying to stage the meeting and glorify its treatment of Albrego Garcia to "deceive people about what's going on."
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Van Hollen said government officials put cocktail glasses on the table to make it look like the two men had been drinking. He also criticized initial plans to set up the meeting by a hotel pool.
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele posted a photo on X on Thursday, showing the US senator and Abrego Garcia sitting together.
Abrego Garcia is "sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!" the post said.
According to Van Hollen, Abrego Garcia is "traumatized" by having been at CECOT, the notorious mega-prison designed to hold El Salvador's most dangerous gang members.
The Trump administration has refused to adhere to a Supreme Court order to return Abrego Garcia to the United States.
Abrego Garcia told the senator that he had been moved from CECOT to a different prison with better conditions.
