Democrats are making high-profile visits to El Salvador to advocate for a deportee accused of gang ties, sparking backlash from critics and mockery from President Bukele.
At a Glance
- Rep. Glenn Ivey is the third Maryland Democrat to visit El Salvador over Kilmar Abrego Garcia
- Garcia was deported under Trump despite a 2019 court order blocking his removal
- President Nayib Bukele mocked Sen. Van Hollen’s visit with photos of Garcia “sipping margaritas”
- Salvadoran officials denied U.S. lawmakers access to a prison housing Garcia
- Reports claim El Salvador received $15 million from the Trump administration for deportee acceptance
“Deportee Diplomacy” or Political Grandstanding?
In a move stirring headlines and partisan heat, Maryland Rep. Glenn Ivey is planning a visit to El Salvador to meet Kilmar Abrego Garcia—a deported immigrant Democrats say was wrongly removed under the Trump administration. Garcia’s case is mired in controversy: while a 2019 court order reportedly blocked his deportation, he was still sent back, with claims surfacing of alleged MS-13 affiliations.
Democrats argue Garcia was a victim of an “administrative error,” but Republicans and critics view this as political theater. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who visited earlier this year, drew attention when El Salvador’s president Nayib Bukele posted photos of the senator and Garcia enjoying drinks in a scenic setting—hardly the picture of someone in dire straits.
Watch a report: Lawmakers Visit Alleged MS-13 Deportee.
Bukele’s Barbs and Blockades
Bukele’s online trolling has proven just as potent as diplomatic snubs. When Van Hollen tried to inspect a prison facility where Garcia is held, Salvadoran guards refused entry. The senator later stated they were “under orders not to allow us to proceed,” a moment that underscored El Salvador’s rejection of U.S. oversight.
Bukele’s administration maintains that Garcia is healthy and in custody due to national laws—possibly incentivized by a reported $15 million deal under Trump to accept deportees. His remarks—”he gets the honor of staying in El Salvador’s custody”—were laced with irony, suggesting Garcia’s continued detention serves diplomatic rather than legal interests.
Immigration, Image, and Impasse
The Biden administration now claims it cannot repatriate Garcia unless El Salvador formally requests it, despite a Supreme Court order that may have allowed his return. This procedural stalemate lets Democrats decry Trump-era deportations while avoiding the political cost of bringing a controversial figure back to U.S. soil.
Adding to the complexity, a Cato Institute review cited by lawmakers notes that half of imprisoned men in El Salvador had entered the U.S. legally, raising questions about how immigration pathways are monitored. Still, the core tension remains: was Garcia a wrongful deportee or a legitimate removal based on threat assessments?
For now, Democrats’ repeated trips to El Salvador highlight both their commitment to immigration justice and the performative risks of high-profile interventions—especially when foreign leaders use margarita memes to steal the spotlight.
