It’s been more than two months since El Salvador born Kilmar Abrego Garcia was swept up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and deported to his home country without due process. Abrego Garcia had been exempted from extradition by court order.
Late last week, U.S. Representative Glenn Ivey (D-MD) was the latest lawmaker denied access to Abrego Garcia.
During a press conference after being turned away, Ivey said, “I was deeply disappointed and frankly angry that we were not allowed to get in to see him.”
Here’s how he described the encounter with guards at El Salvador’s Santa Ana prison, “We talked with our ambassador, who also reached out to the government here. So the fact that they didn’t let us in, in fact, they told us at the gate that we had to go back to San Salvador to get a permit, which is ridiculous. This is an international visit. I’m a member of Congress. I should have the opportunity to visit with my constituent. “
At the end of April during a trip to El Salvador four House Democrats were denied their request to meet with Abrego Garcia.
So far, the only U.S. official to speak with him since his deportation has been Sen. Chris Van Hollen. Abrego Garcia has been denied any communication with his family or his lawyer.
The legal battle has become a major test of executive power versus judicial authority despite the Supreme Court’s ruling that the Administration should “facilitate” his return to the U.S.
