Maryland Senator Demands Justice: Inside the High-Stakes Push to Free Abrego García

U.S. Lawmaker Challenges El Salvador’s Vice President in Tense Showdown Over Alleged Political Prisoner

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen took a bold stand this week, meeting directly with El Salvador’s Vice President Félix Ulloa to demand the release of Rina Abrego García, a mother detained under President Nayib Bukele’s controversial crackdown on gangs.

García, a 32-year-old community activist, was arrested in 2022 during mass detentions tied to Bukele’s "state of exception" policy. Human rights groups allege she’s among thousands wrongly imprisoned without due process.

Why This Case Matters:

• Diplomatic Tensions: The meeting marks rare direct U.S. pressure on Bukele’s government
• Human Rights Crisis: Over 76,000 arrested since 2022 with widespread reports of abuse
• Family in Exile: García’s children now live with relatives in Maryland

Van Hollen’s Three-Pronged Strategy:

1. Leveraging congressional influence to freeze U.S. security aid
2. Coordinating with UN human rights investigators
3. Mobilizing Salvadoran-American voters ahead of 2024 elections

"This isn’t just about one woman," Van Hollen stated after the closed-door meeting. "It’s about whether America will tolerate allies dismantling judicial safeguards."

What’s Next?

Sources confirm the State Department is reviewing visa restrictions for Salvadoran officials linked to the crackdown. Meanwhile, García’s family prepares for a last-ditch habeas corpus petition.

What Do You Think?

• Should the U.S. cut ties with allies over human rights violations?
• Does Bukele’s crime reduction justify suspending due process?
• Are American lawmakers overstepping by intervening in foreign justice systems?
• Could García’s case become a 2024 election wedge issue?