Kilmar Abrego Garcia meets with Maryland senator in El Salvador, weeks after mistaken deportation
Hubnews1- Kilmar Abrego Garcia sits down with Maryland senator in El Salvador, weeks after wrongful deportation Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen confirms that he has sat down with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who immigration officials say was deported in error, in El Salvador on Thursday, according to a spokesperson for Van Hollen.
The Democratic senator posted a photo with Abrego Garcia at what looks like a restaurant.
“I indicated that my primary reason for taking this trip was to see Kilmar,” Sen. Van Hollen stated. “Tonight I got that opportunity. I have telephoned his wife, Jennifer, to communicate his message of love. I look forward to giving a full report upon return.”
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele also posted photos of the meeting, but indicated Abrego Garcia will continue to be jailed by his government, which is being compensated by the United States to detain deportees: “Now that he’s been confirmed healthy, he gets the privilege of staying in El Salvador’s custody.”
Abrego Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez, indicated in a statement following the meeting her “prayers have been answered.”
“We still have so many questions, hopes, and fears. I will continue praying and fighting for Kilma’s return home,” Vasquez wrote.
White House deputy press secretary Kush Desai criticized Van Hollen’s visit as “truly disgusting,” saying, “Chris Van Hollen has firmly established Democrats as the party whose top priority is the welfare of an illegal alien MS-13 terrorist.” Abrego Garcia’s lawyers denied any connection to MS-13.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia meets with Maryland senator in El Salvador
The surprise encounter with Van Hollen is Abrego Garcia’s first public appearance since last month, when his deportation to El Salvador’s infamous Terrorism Confinement Center made national headlines and resulted in a court battle with the Trump administration.
The administration acknowledged in court documents Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador — along with hundreds of other Venezuelan and Salvadoran migrants — because of an “administrative error.” U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis instructed the government to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return to the United States, and the Supreme Court supported that instruction, but he has stayed in El Salvador ever since, with Xinis implying that the government hasn’t enforced her instruction and requesting updates on his situation from time to time.
The Trump administration has countered that it’s El Salvador’s call whether to send Abrego Garcia back — a contention an appeals court deemed “shocking” on Thursday. The government also accused Abrego Garcia of being affiliated with Salvadoran gang MS-13 based on a confidential informant, though his lawyers have denied the accusation and pointed out Abrego Garcia has not been charged or convicted of anything.
Abrego Garcia, 29, was born in El Salvador but came to the United States illegally in 2011 when he was 16 years old. He was arrested in front of a Maryland Home Depot in 2019, but a judge blocked the government from deporting him to El Salvador, citing that he could be targeted by gangs in El Salvador. Years later, in March of the current year, he was arrested by immigration officials in Maryland and deported to the Salvadoran detention facility, also referred to as CECOT.
Abrego Garcia’s case is also at the heart of a hotly disputed move by the Trump administration to transport dozens of migrants — accused members of MS-13 as well as members of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua — to CECOT under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which authorizes the president to deport a citizen of an enemy country amid an “invasion or predatory incursion.” The move has been met in court with skepticism by critics, who denounce CECOT facilities and argue that the government is withholding the due process of migrants.
A “60 Minutes” investigation discovered the majority of the 238 Venezuelans deported on multiple flights last month from CECOT had no visible criminal history. But the Trump administration has justified its application of the law, claiming it is combating gang violence. Van Hollen’s encounter with Abrego Garcia followed the senator being refused entry Thursday at a military checkpoint on the outskirts of CECOT. He reported being approximately three kilometers from the infamous supermax prison, when he was detained by soldiers, whom he claimed were instructed to block his way towards the prison.
Van Hollen departed for El Salvador on Wednesday to ensure Abrego Garcia’s health. He gave an update of his trip. Kilmar “My main mission here is to send a message that we are not going to let up in our efforts to get him back until he is actually freed,” said Van Hollen prior to his flight.
What to know about Phoenix Ikner: Alleged FSU gunman and son of sheriff’s deputy
Kilmar Abrego Garcia encounter with Maryland senator in El Salvador Following Thursday’s campus shooting at Florida State University, a police background check on the alleged shooter — the son of a sheriff’s deputy — has emerged.
Two people were shot and killed and six others hurt when shots broke out outside the Tallahassee school’s Student Union, officials said in a news conference.
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Campus police officers shot the suspect and he was hospitalized, police said. He was taken in and charged with non-life-threatening injuries, several law enforcement officials told ABC News.
The suspect, whose name was revealed at the press conference, is 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, son of Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Jessica Ikner.
Sheriff Walter McNeil indicated that amongst the private firearms of his mother, one among the guns present at the location was near Phoenix. He had a handgun as well as a shotgun too with which he had started firing, officials supplemented.
Jessica Ikner is one deputy who had served within the agency for over 18 years and “her service to this community has been exceptional,” stated Sheriff Walter McNeil.
McNeil also said that the 20-year-old suspect was a “long-time member” of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Youth Advisory Council.
The 20-year-old suspect was “surrounded by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office family,” McNeil said, and went on to say, “It’s not surprising to us that he was able to access weapons,” he added.
An investigation into the motive behind the deadly shooting is ongoing.Police told the news conference police response to the shooting was “massive” and “very quick.”
“We have multiple crime scenes, and there are possibly hundreds, if not thousands, of witnesses,” Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said.Revell also indicated the suspect did not obey orders prior to being
What to know about Phoenix Ikner: Alleged FSU gunman and son of sheriff’s deputy
What to know about Phoenix Ikner: FSU gunman suspect, sheriff’s deputy’s son As the country waits with bated breath for updates on the devastating shooting at Florida State University that left one victim dead, new details are shedding light on Phoenix Ikner — the alleged suspect and the son of a sheriff’s deputy.
Two were killed and at least six others injured as gunfire broke out outside the Student Union of the Tallahassee campus, authorities revealed during a news briefing.
The suspect was shot by first responders on campus and taken to a hospital afterward, authorities said. He was apprehended with nonThe reason for the deadly shooting is being investigated.
Police indicated during the press conference that law enforcement’s reaction to the shooting was “massive” and “very swift.”
“We are working multiple crime scenes, and there are potentially hundreds, if not thousands, of witnesses,” Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said.
Revell also said the suspect refused to follow commands before he was shot by responding officers. “I don’t think he fired at officers,” Revell said.
-life-threatening injuries, several law enforcement officials told ABC News.
The suspect was identified at the press conference as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Jessica Ikner.
Sheriff Walter McNeil said that Phoenix employed one of his mother’s personal weapons, one of the weapons used during the crime. He also had a handgun and a shotgun with him when he committed the shooting, officials reported.
Jessica Ikner is a department deputy for more than 18 years and “her service to this community has been exceptional,” McNeil said.
The 20-year-old suspect was also a “long-time member” of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Youth Advisory Council, McNeil added.
Phoenix had been “raised in the Leon County Sheriff’s Office family,” McNeil said, going on, “It’s no surprise to us that he had access to firearms,” he continued.
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