Trump calls Van Hollen a fool for engaging with deported immigrant
- Chris Van Hollen visited Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador to advocate for his return to the U.S.
- Trump criticized Van Hollen for the meeting and labeled Garcia as an MS-13 member despite legal uncertainties.
- The incident highlights ongoing conflicts over immigration policies and the treatment of deportees.
In April 2025, California Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland deportee. Garcia was mistakenly deported and is currently held in a notorious prison in El Salvador. Van Hollen's goal was to advocate for Garcia's return to the U.S. after a court acknowledged that his deportation was an administrative error. President Donald Trump responded angrily to Van Hollen's trip, labeling him a "fool" and suggesting that Garcia was an MS-13 gang member, despite legal scrutiny that has not definitively corroborated those claims. Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez, has accused him of domestic violence, which Trump cited to bolster his criticism of Van Hollen's actions. Trump emphasized the dangers associated with Garcia, asserting that deporting him would be irresponsible, while Van Hollen maintains that Garcia deserves to go through proper legal processes regarding his deportation status.