U.S. Senator Stopped Second Time from Visiting Deported "Maryland Man" in El Salvador Prison

What Happened?

A U.S. senator was stopped by armed guards at a military checkpoint, after being turned away less than two miles from where a wrongly deported Maryland man is currently held.

Democratic Senator, Van Hollen, traveled to El Salvador in hopes of touring the prison and meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

It marks the second day in a row the Maryland Democrat has reportedly been refused entry into El Salvador’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT).

USA TODAY reports that two GOP House members were given a tour of the facility two days prior.

Van Hollen met with Salvadoran Vice President, Felix Ulloa, Wednesday, but made little progress in efforts to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S.

The senator told reporters he couldn’t arrange visitation access or set up a phone call with Abrego Garcia who was detained in March.

Why it Matters

Lawyers for the Justice Department and Abrego Garcia met Tuesday, in federal court, amid criticism the government faces following an 'administrative stay' granted by the Supreme Court ruling.

Chief Justice, John Roberts, temporarily paused U.S. District Judge, Paula Xinis', order that imposed a midnight deadline to return the 29-year-old father of three and sheet worker.

Abrego Garcia’s attorneys argued that the federal government had violated the Supreme Court’s order after it made no meaningful attempts to secure his release.

Newly released reports revealed that Abrego Garcia, accused of being an MS-13 gang member, has a record of being 'violent' and a repeat of domestic violence allegations.

El Salvador President, Nayib Bukele, joined President Donald Trump earlier this week to inform media members that Abrego Garcia would not be returned to the U.S.

He called it 'preposterous' to allude that he would try and 'smuggle' Abrego Garcia back into the country illegally, and that El Salvador is 'not very fond of releasing terrorists.'

Many still point to a 2019 protective order that should have prevented Abrego Garcia's departure from the U.S.

NBC News reported that Abrego Garcia has never been charged criminally in the U.S. or El Salvador.

How it Affects You

Officials are still moving to require the Trump administration to take all available steps to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return.

The White House expressed concern after not understanding 'the confusion' over the high court's order.

The justices added, the district court should clarify its directive toward the Trump administration in its order to provide updates on Abrego Garcia's whereabouts.

El Salvadoran's Bukele said he does not 'have the power' to return Abrego Garcia and the Trump administration says it's up to the Salvadoran government.

The fate of Abrego Garcia's return to the U.S. is ultimately unclear as the Trump administration aims to ramp up its mass deportation efforts.

Resistance by lower court orders may continue to challenge those policies and measures.