Senators Push for Accountability on Deportations to El Salvador Amid Court Battles

Democratic senators have put forth legislation to compel the Trump administration to report on deportations to El Salvador, particularly concerning Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s case. This comes amid revelations that the deportation involved an administrative error. The bill includes assessments of human rights in El Salvador and stipulates a freeze on U.S. assistance if reporting requirements are not met.

A group of U.S. senators, led by Maryland’s Chris Van Hollen and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, introduced new legislation on Thursday. This proposed law seeks to mandate the Trump administration to provide detailed reports regarding deportations to El Salvador, particularly following the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The case has received substantial attention, as the administration recently acknowledged that Abrego Garcia’s deportation stemmed from an administrative error.

The legislation comes in the wake of Abrego Garcia’s removal to a Salvadoran prison, which has raised alarms among lawmakers about U.S. involvement. Approximately 200 migrants were deported under controversial circumstances earlier this year. Reports indicate that Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele agreed to take in alleged gang members, with the Trump administration utilizing the Alien Enemies Act dating back to World War II for these deportations.

Concerns have been echoed by several officials, particularly Senator Van Hollen, who has been vocal about the implications of the deportations. During a recent visit to El Salvador, he claimed that Vice President Félix Ulloa revealed Abrego Garcia remains detained due to U.S. financial support. “…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,” Van Hollen pointed out in a letter to President Trump.

The legislation addresses other critical issues as well. It would require the Trump administration to report not only on deportation procedures but also conduct an evaluation of El Salvador’s human rights record. Should the administration fail to comply with these reporting obligations, any U.S. security assistance to El Salvador could be halted.

Furthermore, the bill was specifically introduced under the auspices of the Foreign Assistance Act, which legally requires Senate action. Van Hollen, in a statement, emphasized, “The American people deserve answers on this clear defiance of our nation’s constitutional rights…”

With ongoing developments in the litigation surrounding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the situation remains quite fluid. A federal judge had previously ordered the Trump administration to expedite Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S. after the Supreme Court also weighed in on the matter.

In 2019, Abrego Garcia was granted a “withholding of removal” order by a U.S. immigration judge, a legal protection aimed at preventing wrongful deportation. Subsequent to this order, Judge Paula Xinis has expressed frustration at the administration’s lack of timely compliance. She noted that the Trump administration had displayed “willful and bad faith refusal to comply” with court mandates during hearings on this matter.

The newly introduced legislation serves as a crucial measure for transparency regarding U.S. deportations to El Salvador, underscoring the complexities surrounding Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s case. With the Trump administration’s handling of deportations under scrutiny, the senators seek accountability, especially concerning human rights implications and the usage of taxpayer funds. Ongoing court rulings have continuously challenged the administration’s legal conduct, highlighting the urgency and importance of the issues raised in this legislation.

Original Source: www.cbsnews.com