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\"These soldiers were ordered to prevent us from going any farther from this spot,\" Van Hollen said. \"I understand we're about three kilometers now from CECOT, and as you can see, they're letting other cars go by, but they stopped us because they're under orders not to allow us to proceed to check on the well-being of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.\"

\"PHOTO:
Senator Chris Van Hollen/YouTube
PHOTO: Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen in a video posted to his YouTube account, April 17, 2025.
>

Over the last couple of weeks, Republican members of Congress have gained access to the prison and posted pictures on their social media pages from inside the complex.

Van Hollen later told reporters that he made his request to visit the prison to the U.S. Embassy, which then passed the request to El Salvador's government.

The senator said he also asked El Salvador's vice president on Wednesday to visit the facility.

\"I emphasized my goal was to check on his health and well-being,\" he said.

The senator also said the prisoner has had no contact with anyone outside of CECOT, which he said is a violation of international law.

\"El Salvador is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. El Salvador has signed and ratified that covenant, and that covenant says, and I quote, 'A detained or imprisoned person shall be entitled to communicate and consult with his legal counsel,'\" Van Allen told reporters.

The White House slammed Van Hollen for making the trip and advocating for Abrego Garcia on Wednesday. The administration and the DOJ have claimed with little evidence, that Abrego Garcia is a gang member.

The Justice Department has not charged Abrego Garcia with any gang-related crimes and his alleged MS-13 membership has been disputed in court.

A federal judge and the Supreme Court ordered the government to take all available steps to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia to the U.S., and on Wednesday, the DOJ filed a notice that it is appealing.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Trump administration's request on Thursday.

President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation on Thursday and claimed he isn't involved.

\"I was elected to get rid of those criminals, to get them out of our count,ry or to put them away, but to get them out of our country. And I don't see how judges can take that authority away from a president,\" he told reporters.

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