Chris Van Holland, a Congressman from Maryland just made an idiot of himself, flying all the way to EL Salvador to be rejected at every turn in his quest to “bring home” an MS-13 gang member who had been living illegally in his state.
Case Overview: Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador, is a documented MS-13 gang member who poses a significant threat to American safety. Entering the U.S. unlawfully around 2011, Abrego Garcia was arrested by ICE on March 12, 2025, in Maryland and deported to El Salvador on March 15, 2025, where he is rightfully detained in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT). The Trump administration views his deportation as a critical step in protecting national security and upholding immigration law.
Evidence of Gang Affiliation:
- In a 2019 immigration bond hearing, Prince George’s County Police, citing a confidential informant, identified Abrego Garcia as an MS-13 member with the rank of “Chequeo” and the moniker “Chele,” tied to a New York MS-13 chapter. MS-13 is a designated terrorist organization responsible for violent crimes, including murder and trafficking.
- During a 2019 arrest for loitering, police observed Abrego Garcia wearing a Chicago Bulls hat and a hoodie with imagery associated with Hispanic gang culture (“see no evil, hear no evil, say no evil”), further corroborating his gang ties.
- In 2021, his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, filed a restraining order alleging he physically assaulted her, punching, scratching, and bruising her. This history of violence aligns with MS-13’s criminal profile, despite her later withdrawal of the order.
- The administration, including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, has evidence suggesting Abrego Garcia’s involvement in human trafficking, reinforcing the need for his removal. ICE official Evan Katz emphasized that his MS-13 membership disqualifies him from withholding of removal protections.
Deportation and Legal Context:
- Abrego Garcia’s 2019 “withholding of removal” status, granted due to claimed gang threats in El Salvador, was an error exploited by lax immigration policies. His deportation on March 15, 2025, was an administrative action to correct this and prioritize public safety, though later deemed a technical violation of the 2019 court order.
- The administration acknowledges the deportation was an “administrative error” but maintains it was justified given his terrorist affiliations. If returned, Abrego Garcia would face immediate detention and deportation to a third country or termination of his immigration status, as his MS-13 ties negate any legal protections.
AG Bondi released the underlying Gang Field Interview Sheet (GFIS) related to Abrego Garcia’s detainment in 2019, along with other documents. In the GFIS, the police officer attests that when Abrego-Garcia was arrested, he was hanging out with multiple confirmed MS-13 members, that he was wearing apparel associated with MS-13, and that a confidential source independently identified Abrego-Garcia’s membership in MS-13 along with his rank and moniker in the organization.
Supreme Court Ruling (April 10, 2025):
- The Supreme Court’s unanimous 9-0 decision is a victory for the Trump administration’s authority over immigration and foreign policy. The Court adjusted a lower court’s order from “effectuate” to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s release from CECOT, explicitly recognizing the executive branch’s primacy in matters of national security and international relations.
- The administration interprets “facilitate” as a narrow obligation: the U.S. must admit Abrego Garcia if El Salvador independently releases him, but it has no duty to compel his release or arrange his return. The ruling reinforces that courts cannot infringe on the President’s constitutional powers to manage foreign affairs or immigration enforcement.
- The decision rebuked activist judges like U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, whose orders to return Abrego Garcia by April 7, 2025, overstepped judicial bounds. The Supreme Court’s clarification ensures the administration is not forced to negotiate with El Salvador or undermine its sovereignty over CECOT detainees.
Administration’s Stance on Current Developments:
- Abrego Garcia remains in El Salvador’s custody, and President Nayib Bukele has labeled him a “terrorist” unfit for release. The U.S. respects El Salvador’s authority over its detainees, and the $6 million paid to house deportees at CECOT does not grant the U.S. control over their judicial processes.
- The administration, backed by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Vice President JD Vance, rejects demands from liberal activists and congressional Democrats like Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. Jamie Raskin, who frame the deportation as a due process issue. Their push to return Abrego Garcia ignores his documented MS-13 ties and seeks to weaken border security.
- Judge Xinis’s ongoing demands for daily updates and threats of contempt proceedings are judicial overreach. The administration’s April 16, 2025, appeal against her latest orders defends executive prerogative and national security interests. DHS and ICE are complying with the Supreme Court’s ruling by maintaining readiness to process Abrego Garcia if released, but they will not pressure El Salvador to free a dangerous criminal.
Response to Critics:
- Claims by Abrego Garcia’s lawyers—Andrew Rossman, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, Benjamin Osorio, and Rina Gandhi—that the U.S. can secure his release are baseless. Their narrative dismisses credible evidence of his MS-13 involvement and exploits his family ties (his wife is here legally) to garner sympathy.
- Advocacy groups like CASA and legal scholars such as Laurence Tribe misrepresent the case as a constitutional crisis. The administration sees this as a distraction from the real issue: protecting Americans from violent illegal immigrants.
- Doubts about the 2019 informant’s reliability, tied to a detective’s unrelated 2020 indictment, are irrelevant. The informant’s information was corroborated by police observations and Abrego Garcia’s behavior, including his violent history.
The Trump administration is standing firm: Kilmar Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 gang member whose deportation was a necessary action, despite procedural errors. The Supreme Court’s 9-0 ruling affirms the administration’s authority to prioritize national security and limits judicial interference. As Abrego Garcia remains detained in El Salvador, the U.S. will not undermine its ally’s sovereignty or risk returning a terrorist to American soil. Any further attempts by liberal judges or activists to force his return will be met with vigorous legal resistance to protect the American people.
