El Salvador’s President took to Twitter to post images of Kilmar Armando Ábrego García, highlighting his ‘miraculous rise’ from what he called the ‘world’s worst prison’.
Since Donald Trump assumed the role of the 47th President of the United States, his administration has carried out mass deportations, resulting in over 250 alleged criminals being sent to the Center for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT) in El Salvador, a facility considered among the harshest in the world.
Recently, Kilmar Armando Ábrego García, a resident of Maryland, was mistakenly deported there due to what Trump’s administration admitted was an ‘administrative error’.
The Supreme Court subsequently ordered that steps be taken to ensure Ábrego García’s return. Despite this, he remained in custody.
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen voiced his concerns, stating he was initially prevented from visiting or communicating with Ábrego García, as reported by The Independent. He later managed to meet Ábrego García at a hotel in San Salvador.
The first public images of Ábrego García following his deportation surfaced online.
Senator Van Hollen posted a photo on social media depicting him with Ábrego García engaged in conversation at a table with water and two mugs.
In his caption, Van Hollen wrote: “I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return.”
Conversely, the images shared by El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele presented a different perspective.
Earlier today, Bukele tweeted three vibrant images from the same meeting, including one featuring two apparent cocktail glasses with cherries.
His caption read: “Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the ‘death camps’ & ‘torture’, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!”
A source familiar with the matter disclosed that the cocktail glasses were props, staged by an aide to Bukele.
Bukele later commented on his post: “Now that he’s been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvador’s custody.”
White House spokesperson Kush Desai criticized the visit, stating it was ‘disgusting’ and condemning Van Hollen for allegedly prioritizing the welfare of an ‘illegal alien MS-13 terrorist,’ as reported by the BBC.
“It is truly disgusting. President Trump will continue to stand on the side of law-abiding Americans,” Desai remarked.
Van Hollen previously stated to the press: “The courts of the United States have said there’s no evidence to support the charge that [Ábrego García] is part of MS13 [an international criminal gang].”
Bukele claims to be receiving payments from the US government to detain these individuals, with reports suggesting the payments amount to $6 million as noted by the New York Times.
When questioned about his stance on the Supreme Court’s order regarding Ábrego García’s return, President Trump responded: “Well, I’m not involved. You’ll have to speak to the lawyers, the D.O.J.”