Kilmer Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador and linked to the MS-13 gang, was taken into custody by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Monday morning after meeting with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
A few months back, Abrego Garcia’s deportation to El Salvador had prompted significant efforts from Democrats to shield him, despite allegations of his involvement in gang activity and a trafficking network spanning multiple states.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has moved to return Abrego Garcia from a prison in El Salvador, citing accusations of domestic violence and abuse against women.
Last Friday, he was released from federal custody under parole conditions, but ICE agents arrested him when they followed up with immigration officials. Officials from the Trump administration have indicated that he will be sent to Uganda.
Senator Van Hollen, known for his controversial encounters, is insisting on another meeting with Abrego Garcia, who is under detention.
“I spoke with Kilmer Abrego Garcia this morning and am glad to be back in Maryland after this, um, really difficult experience,” Van Hollen shared in a statement on Sunday:
“This was the first time I’ve talked to him since our meeting in El Salvador. During our conversation, I made it clear that many of us have fought hard to uphold his constitutional rights. Despite attempts to undermine these rights, we’ve managed to bring him back to Maryland, thanks to federal court rulings and public protests. Unfortunately, misinformation about his case continues to spread, and there are threats to send him to Uganda, which could prevent him from defending himself against new allegations. I assured Kilmer and his wife, Jennifer, that we’re committed to this fight for justice and proper legal processes. Denying his rights puts everyone’s rights in jeopardy.”
The allegations against Abrego Garcia originated from a traffic stop in Tennessee in 2022, where body camera footage showed law enforcement pulling him over while he was driving a vehicle registered to Jose Ramon Hernandez Reyes.
There were nine individuals in the car, none of whom had any luggage. Police suspected smuggling of illegal immigrants into the U.S., but after checking with federal agents, Abrego Garcia was allowed to leave.
Hernandez Reyes, currently serving time in a federal prison in Alabama, faces a seven-count indictment from 2020 for operating a human smuggling operation that transported illegal aliens from the border into the country.
FBI agents have spoken with Hernandez Reyes, who allegedly claimed he intended to recruit Abrego Garcia for aid in smuggling illegal immigrants into the U.S.
