Van Hollen, speaking on CNN, confirmed he did not ask Abrego Garcia whether he had ever been involved with MS-13, a gang designated by U.S. authorities as a foreign terrorist organization. The Senator explained his reasoning simply: “I know what his answer is.” He focused instead on what he characterized as Abrego Garcia’s trauma and denial of due process rights after being deported to El Salvador despite a court order barring the action.
Abrego Garcia’s case has drawn national attention. The 29-year-old, who was living in Maryland, was deported last month under the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation policies. His attorneys assert he was deported unlawfully, citing a standing 2019 court order prohibiting his removal due to documented threats to his life in El Salvador. Federal officials argue otherwise, citing a 2019 police document in which a confidential informant linked Abrego Garcia to MS-13.
BASH: “Can you say with absolute certainty that he is not, nor has he ever been a member of the MS-13 gang, and did you ask him point blank?”
VAN HOLLEN: “What Donald Trump is trying to do here is change the subject. The subject at hand is that he and his administration are… pic.twitter.com/QlXZZANLXf
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) April 20, 2025
Van Hollen has called Abrego Garcia a “constituent” and criticized the administration for what he describes as defiance of federal court rulings. President Trump, however, has publicly doubled down, releasing images of Abrego Garcia’s hand tattoos—which include a skull, cross, and cannabis leaf—as alleged gang identifiers.
President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador posted photos of Van Hollen’s prison visit, further fanning public debate. Shortly thereafter, Trump posted an image of himself holding a close-up of Abrego Garcia’s tattooed hand, mocking Democrats for defending what he called a “fine and innocent person” sarcastically.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the “death camps” & “torture”, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!🍹 pic.twitter.com/r6VWc6Fjtn
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) April 18, 2025
Trump's post claimed two courts had identified Abrego Garcia as an MS-13 member and cited a past domestic violence case involving his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura. Though she now says the couple has reconciled, the allegation remains part of the broader narrative deployed by Trump to justify the deportation.
In response, Van Hollen emphasized that the administration’s accusations have not been upheld in court. Quoting District Judge Zennis, he stated: “No evidence linking Abrego Garcia to MS-13 or any terrorist activity has been presented to the court.” He accused the Trump administration of attempting to “litigate on social media” instead of respecting judicial processes.
This is the hand of the man that the Democrats feel should be brought back to the United States, because he is such “a fine and innocent person.” They said he is not a member of MS-13, even though he’s got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles, and two Highly Respected Courts found… pic.twitter.com/31sNr2k1SK
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2025
He further challenged federal authorities to bring their arguments to court, not to the court of public opinion, saying: “Put up or shut up in the courts.”