A delegation of House Democrats is in El Salvador this week, pressing for the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was deported under what the White House initially called an administrative error. The group is escalating political pressure on the Trump administration, which has refused to comply with a Supreme Court ruling ordering that Abrego Garcia be returned to the United States.
The congressional delegation includes Representatives Robert Garcia of California, Maxwell Frost of Florida, Maxine Dexter of Oregon, and Yassamin Ansari of Arizona. The lawmakers are meeting with U.S. Embassy officials, participating in classified intelligence briefings, and consulting with human rights advocates to assess conditions surrounding Abrego Garcia’s continued detention in El Salvador.
Abrego Garcia’s deportation has sparked widespread controversy. Initially deported from Maryland earlier this year, the White House acknowledged that his removal was a result of a bureaucratic mishap. However, weeks later, the administration reversed its stance, citing alleged gang affiliations. In a statement released last month, officials claimed Abrego Garcia had admitted to being a member of MS-13, a notorious criminal organization that originated in Los Angeles but is now active throughout Central America.
Despite the allegation, legal advocates and Democratic lawmakers argue that the government’s claims are unsubstantiated, noting that no formal charges or criminal history were presented at the time of deportation. The U.S. Supreme Court sided with Abrego Garcia’s attorneys in a recent ruling, ordering that the federal government facilitate his safe return to the U.S. for a full legal review. President Trump has refused to carry out the order, fueling a broader dispute over executive defiance of judicial authority.
During their visit, the congressional delegation meets with local non-governmental organizations that work on immigrant rights and asylum issues. They also tour facilities where Abrego Garcia has been held, seeking assurances about his treatment and the conditions of his detention. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who met with Abrego Garcia last week, says the man remains in legal limbo, denied access to U.S. consular services despite the Supreme Court mandate.
Representative Robert Garcia states that this case is about “upholding the rule of law and protecting due process.” He accuses the Trump administration of politicizing the immigration system and using “fear tactics to override the Constitution.” Representative Frost calls the continued detention “a moral and legal failure,” while Representative Dexter insists the administration is “testing the limits of defiance.”
The Department of Homeland Security has not provided detailed comment, instead referring to ongoing security concerns related to transnational gang threats. DHS officials say they are reviewing the Supreme Court’s opinion but have not confirmed any plans to comply with the order. Critics argue that this delay constitutes contempt of court and sets a dangerous precedent for the balance of powers in the U.S. government.
This case adds to the growing tension between the White House and federal courts over immigration policy. President Trump’s second term has been marked by a series of confrontations with the judiciary, including challenges to asylum restrictions, refugee admissions, and deportation procedures. The standoff over Abrego Garcia has now become a rallying point for progressive lawmakers concerned about executive overreach and human rights violations in the immigration system.
For now, Kilmar Abrego Garcia remains in El Salvador, caught between legal orders in the United States and political resistance in Washington. Advocates hope the presence of the congressional delegation can increase international pressure and force the administration’s hand to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
