US senator meets man mistakenly deported to El Salvador

      

A US senator has met with a man who Trump administration officials have acknowledged was deported in error from Maryland to a mega-prison in El Salvador.

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen posted photos of his meeting with Kilmar Ábrego García, whom the administration has refused to return to the US despite an order from a federal judge

After the meeting, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele also refused to release Mr Ábrego García and said he would remain in the country's custody.

The White House has accused Mr Ábrego García of being a member of the transnational Salvadoran gang MS-13, a designated foreign terrorist organisation, which his lawyer denies.

It comes amid an escalating showdown between the president and the judiciary on immigration, a day after a judge in another case said the administration could be held in contempt of court over deportation flights.

"I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance," the Democratic senator posted on social media.

"I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return."

A US senator has met with a man who Trump administration officials have acknowledged was deported in error from Maryland to a mega-prison in El Salvador.

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen posted photos of his meeting with Kilmar Ábrego García, whom the administration has refused to return to the US despite an order from a federal judge.

After the meeting, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele also refused to release Mr Ábrego García and said he would remain in the country's custody.

The White House has accused Mr Ábrego García of being a member of the transnational Salvadoran gang MS-13, a designated foreign terrorist organisation, which his lawyer denies.

It comes amid an escalating showdown between the president and the judiciary on immigration, a day after a judge in another case said the administration could be held in contempt of court over deportation flights.

"I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance," the Democratic senator posted on social media.

"I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return."

A US senator has met with a man who Trump administration officials have acknowledged was deported in error from Maryland to a mega-prison in El Salvador.

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen posted photos of his meeting with Kilmar Ábrego García, whom thehhy administration has refused to return to the US despite an order from a federal judge.

After the meeting, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele also refused to release Mr Ábrego García and said he would remain in the country's custody.

The White House has accused Mr Ábrego García of being a member of the transnational Salvadoran gang MS-13, a designated foreign terrorist organisation, which his lawyer denies

It comes amid an escalating showdown between the president and the judiciary on immigration, a day after a judge in another case said the administration could be held in contempt of court over deportation flights.

"I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance," the Democratic senator posted on social media.

"I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return."