Rep. Robert Garcia returns from El Salvador, calls for release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Representative Robert Garcia (CA-42) held a press conference today to discuss his recent trip to El Salvador, where he joined fellow lawmakers in advocating for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the 29-year-old Latino man, who, despite having no prior criminal record, was deported due to an “administrative error.”

In April, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration should help "facilitate" his return to his home in Maryland. Officials, however, have made no further efforts to facilitate a safe return for Abrego Garcia, even after meeting with President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador in the Oval Office on April 14.

During his recent trip, Garcia was accompanied by Representatives Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-10) and Maxine Dexter (OR-10). The group traveled independently and at their own expense after a request to authorize an official bipartisan congressional delegation (CODEL) was denied by James Comer (KY-1), chairman of the  House Oversight Committee.

According to the Congressman, they were notified “fairly quickly” after arriving in El Salvador that they would not be allowed to meet with Abrego Garcia. 

“We were there for a full day and did meetings with the ambassador, the embassy, the economic team on the ground, Kilmar’s family, human rights groups and lawyers,” said Garcia. He noted that they also met with the Salvadorian press. 

This trip underscores growing tensions between U.S. lawmakers and El Salvador's government over democratic governance and detainment without due process. Congressman Garcia called the issue a “national constitutional crisis” during a meeting with the press on Tuesday. 

“This has not happened before. [Trump] is literally crossing a line that I think puts our country, our Constitution, our democracy, in danger.”

Accompanying Garcia during the press conference were representatives from immigrant rights organizations, including Gaby Hernandez, executive director of Orale, a Long Beach-based advocacy group. Hernandez criticized the administration’s immigration policies, accusing federal authorities of “criminalizing and disappearing” individuals. 

She cited Abrego Garcia’s experience with the Department of Homeland Security as emblematic of broader patterns within immigrant communities. “He is one of many whose due process has been violated,” she stated, “We must recognize that when one person's rights are violated, we must all rise up, because we might be next.” 

It remains unclear what legal avenues, if any, remain for Abrego Garcia or when he will be allowed to return to the United States. Elected officials across the country have continued to call for his safe return and have pledged to keep drawing attention to the human rights concerns stemming from the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.

“Kilmar’s return is more than just about immigration,” said Representative Garcia, “This is a human rights story. This is a story about our Constitution.”