Trump faces bipartisan criticism over Abrego Garcia deportation

(NPR) The Trump administration received bipartisan criticism on Sunday for its deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia — a Salvadorian citizen who lived in Maryland and was deported to a prison in El Salvador due to an "administrative error."

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., called the deportation a "screw up" though he stopped short of pushing for Abrego Garcia's return to the U.S. Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. — who recently visited Abrego Garcia in El Salvador — said the case marks a "constitutional crisis." The Maryland senator also called for a pressure campaign on El Salvador's government to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S.

The Trump administration has refused to bring back Abrego Garcia despite a Supreme Court order to "facilitate" his return. The Salvadoran citizen entered the country illegally; an immigration judge said he should not be deported to El Salvador because Abrego Garcia was able to prove he was likely to suffer persecution in his home country.

The White House has said it can't force the Salvadoran government to release one of its citizens, while El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele called the idea of Abrego Garcia's release "preposterous."

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/20/g-s1-61475/trump-faces-bipartisan-criticism-over-abrego-garcia-deportation