Deported Maryland Man Transferred from Notorious El Salvador Prison Amidst Political Scrutiny

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old man deported to El Salvador with alleged ties to a violent gang, was moved from the country’s infamous mega-prison, Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), just days before US Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) visited the country last week to advocate for his release, Fox News reports.

Senator Van Hollen confirmed the transfer after returning to the US on Friday, and reiterated the information on Sunday. This confirmation aligns with a report filed in the government’s daily update, obtained by Fox News, and has now been officially confirmed in writing by the State Department.

According to the filing, “Abrego Garcia told Sen. Van Hollen on April 17 that he had been transferred from CECOT to the detention facility ‘Centro Industrial’ in Santa Ana about eight days prior. Abrego Garcia told Sen. Van Hollen that he had been placed in the administrative building of Centro Industrial, in a room of his own with a bed and furniture, and that he was not in a cell.”

Abrego Garcia’s deportation and subsequent detention have sparked significant controversy, particularly amongst Democrats who argue he was wrongfully deported and have referred to him as a “Maryland man.”

Senator Van Hollen has been a vocal critic of the situation, directly addressing former President Donald Trump in a recent X post.

“When you defy court orders and deny one man his Constitutional rights, you threaten them for ALL,” Van Hollen wrote.

He further emphasized a federal judge’s finding of “no evidence linking Abrego Garcia to MS-13 or to any terrorist activity,” demanding Trump “put up or shut up IN COURT.”

Trump has responded to the criticism, accusing Democrats of portraying a false narrative regarding Abrego Garcia’s character. He asserted on his social media platform, Truth Social, that “Radical Lunatic Democrats and their Comrades in the Fake News Media are falsely making Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia out to be a very sweet and innocent person, which is a total, blatant, and dangerous LIE.”

Trump also mocked Senator Van Hollen’s visit to El Salvador as being that of a “fool.”