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A human rights and political storm is brewing in America as Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, a man at the center of the center of a deportation scandal that has set off outrage throughout the Democratic Party and new fire from former President Donald Trump. In a dramatic social media post Friday night, former President Donald Trump shared a photo he claims shows MS-13 gang tattoos on the knuckles of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Trump doubled down on his stance, blasting Democrats for “defending a violent criminal,” even as courts and legal experts insist Abrego was wrongfully deported and deserves due process.

Who is Kilmar Abrego Garcia?

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 29, is a Salvadoran national who crossed into the US as a teenager in 2011 to escape gang violence in his country. He was living in Maryland with his wife, who is a US citizen, and their children, with a valid work permit since 2019, after a federal judge said that sending him back to El Salvador would put his life in danger. That legal shield, though, was disregarded last month when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported him to El Salvador—a move the Trump administration later conceded was a result of a clerical mistake.

Garcia is now incarcerated at El Salvador's controversial CECOT mega-prison under the country's "state of exception" law, which abrogates due process protections. He has not yet been charged.

Democrats Demand Justice

Senator Van Hollen, a Democrat leader, journeyed to El Salvador this week with one agenda in mind: to meet Abrego and demand his release. "The purpose of my trip was to meet Kilmar," Van Hollen posted on X (formerly Twitter), along with a photo of the two of them. "I have spoken with his wife, Jennifer, to relay his message of love." Van Hollen denounced the actions of both US and Salvadoran authorities, deeming the denial of legal access "a breach of international law." He cited the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which was ratified by El Salvador, as ensuring the right of detainees to see legal counsel.

Trump Fires Back With Photo

In a highly dramatic development, Donald Trump shared a black-and-white photo of tattooed knuckles with the words "MS-13" on his social media platforms, asserting it as evidence that Abrego is a member of a gang. "This is the hand of the man that the Democrats think needs to be returned to the United States… I need to be able to do my job. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump posted. Nevertheless, the photo has come under great scrutiny. Social media users and digital forensics experts cited discrepancies that it might have been tampered with. Critics, such as former lawmakers, condemned Trump for influencing public perception using deceptive imagery.

Battle Intensifies: What's Next?

Contrary to Trump's assertions, court documents never mention any tattoos as evidence of gang membership. In reality, a US District Court and the Supreme Court already ruled in favor of allowing Abrego to return, based on his wrongful deportation and deprivation of due process. His attorneys argue there is no substantive evidence connecting him to MS-13 and that the sole foundation for deportation was a contested confidential informant tip. The Supreme Court recently told the Justice Department to explain attempts to reinstate Abrego in US.

Van Hollen says more Democratic delegations are preparing to push for Garcia’s return, while Republican lawmakers remain silent on the wrongful deportation. El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has refused to release Abrego, stating bluntly, “I’m not going to smuggle a terrorist into the US ” This developing drama not only poses grave questions about immigration enforcement and due process but also establishes a stark 2024 election-year fight over how America treats those it deems to be threats—and what justice means.