El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele shared a series of photos on Thursday showing Kilmar Abrego Garcia meeting with U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), joking that Garcia was now “sipping margaritas” in the “tropical paradise” of El Salvador—a month after his deportation from the U.S. due to what was described as an “administrative error.”
Bukele captioned the post with sarcasm, writing: “Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the ‘death camps’ & ‘torture’, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!” The images included Garcia and Van Hollen shaking hands and conversing at a dinner table with drinks in front of them.
Van Hollen, who had traveled to El Salvador to check on Garcia’s well-being after his controversial deportation and placement in the CECOT mega-prison, also shared a message: “I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I’ve spoken with his wife, Jennifer, and passed along his love.”
The senator was initially blocked from visiting Garcia upon arrival but was eventually granted the meeting. The Trump administration has stood by the deportation, labeling Garcia an undocumented immigrant with alleged ties to MS-13, a claim they’ve used to justify his removal. “He is not coming back to our country,” said U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, noting that Bukele also refused to return him, stating, “That’s the end of the story.”
