Senators Push for Reporting Legislation on Deportations to El Salvador

Democratic Senators proposed legislation requiring the Trump administration to report on deportations to El Salvador, particularly regarding the wrongful deportation case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The bill would assess El Salvador’s human rights record and restrict U.S. funds if reports are not provided. Legislation stems from ongoing legal issues about the administration’s compliance with court orders.

In a move aimed at increasing oversight on deportations, several Democratic Senators introduced legislation Thursday that insists the Trump administration submit reports documenting its compliance with court rulings regarding deportations to El Salvador. The initiative arises amidst an ongoing legal battle surrounding the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man deported to a Salvadoran prison earlier this year due to what the administration acknowledges to be an administrative mistake.

Key figures in this legislative effort include Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, among others. The proposed bill seeks to assess human rights practices in El Salvador while also determining if U.S. funds are being directed to support the detention of deported individuals like Abrego Garcia. This context is particularly crucial given concerns about the conditions in Salvadoran prisons.

Abrego Garcia was part of a group of nearly 200 migrants who were deported to a controversial prison in El Salvador in March. Reports indicate El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele had been willing to accept alleged gang members, and U.S. authorities utilized the Alien Enemies Act from World War II to deport them. This arrangement has stirred disquiet among lawmakers, especially Senator Van Hollen, who has persistently pushed for Abrego Garcia’s reinstatement to the United States.

During a recent visit to El Salvador, Senator Van Hollen was informed by Salvadoran Vice President Félix Ulloa that Abrego Garcia remained in detention because the U.S. government was compelling El Salvador to keep him incarcerated, with U.S. financial support involved. Justifying this, Van Hollen stated in a letter to President Trump that “the Government of El Salvador is holding him solely at the request of your Administration and, specifically, because you are paying them to imprison him.”

Under the proposed legislation, aid from the U.S. to El Salvador aimed at enhancing security would be retracted if the Trump administration fails to provide the required reports about these deportations. This proposed measure arises from the Foreign Assistance Act, mandating a Senate vote.

Senator Van Hollen emphasized the necessity for transparency, asserting in a statement that “The American people deserve answers on this clear defiance of our nation’s constitutional rights and the extent of El Salvador’s complicity in this scheme, as well as its human rights abuses.”

Continuing the saga of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, after a federal judge and the Supreme Court mandated the Trump administration to expedite his return to the U.S., the situation has become increasingly pressing. Abrego Garcia had received a “withholding of removal” order from a U.S. immigration judge back in 2019, which should have shielded him from deportation.

Most recently, a federal judge turned down a request from the Trump administration seeking extra time to provide necessary information regarding Abrego Garcia’s case. Judge Paula Xinis has consistently insisted on compliance and accountability, indicating through court proceedings that the administration’s conduct signifies “willful and bad faith refusal to comply” with existing legal obligations.

The introduction of the legislation reflects significant concern among U.S. Senators about administrative oversight over deportations to El Salvador. With the ongoing case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongfully deported, the push for thorough reporting and accountability from the Trump administration gains urgency. If enacted, the new measures could curtail security assistance to El Salvador if compliance is not met. This development underscores the importance placed on human rights and proper legal processes in immigration enforcement.

Original Source: www.cbsnews.com