A group of Democratic members of Congress has made an urgent trip to El Salvador to push for the return of detained U.S. citizens, continuing their efforts to shed light on the injustices faced by people wrongfully deported under the Trump administration.
The delegation, which includes Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), and Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), is working to secure due process for individuals who were sent to El Salvador, some of whom have been detained without access to legal counsel or basic human rights protections.
The trip, which follows a legal battle over the detention of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man whose case has garnered significant attention, is part of a broader effort to call attention to the government’s handling of wrongful deportations and the ongoing denial of rights to these individuals.
Abrego Garcia, who had been detained by the U.S. government, became the focal point of the delegation’s efforts after it was confirmed that he had been sent to El Salvador, where his whereabouts and well-being remained uncertain for weeks. The delegation hopes to continue the pressure for his return and seek justice for other detainees who have faced similar fates.
“We are here because the President is defying the Supreme Court order,” Rep. Garcia said during the trip. “We need to hold this administration accountable for their actions. This is about standing up for the due process rights that these individuals are entitled to.”
The group is making it clear that they won’t let these cases disappear into obscurity, and they are demanding transparency from the Trump administration regarding the fates of the detainees.
The delegation’s efforts have already put them at odds with the Trump administration, which has been criticized for its handling of deportation cases and for failing to comply with a 9–0 Supreme Court ruling that mandated the return of individuals wrongfully deported to El Salvador.
The administration's refusal to follow the court’s order has sparked fears that this case could set a dangerous precedent for future wrongful deportations, and the Democratic lawmakers have emphasized the importance of pushing for accountability before the situation worsens.
The congress members’ trip to El Salvador also included a visit to meet with human rights activists and representatives from the U.S. Embassy, where they were briefed on the status of the detainees and what steps the U.S. government is taking to ensure their safety and return.
While the delegation was informed that they would need to take up certain questions with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, their efforts have been viewed as an essential part of a broader strategy to raise awareness and pressure the administration into action.
One of the most urgent cases they are highlighting is that of Andry José Hernández Romero, a 31-year-old Venezuelan gay makeup artist who has been detained in El Salvador despite having no criminal record.
According to activists, Hernández Romero has not been heard from since mid-March, and his family and legal representatives are desperate for information about his well-being. “Everyone is extremely worried about him,” Rep. Ansari said from El Salvador. “We’ve had no proof of life in over a month.”
Hernández Romero’s case is just one example of the hundreds of individuals who have been sent to El Salvador without due process. His story has captured widespread attention due to the deeply troubling nature of his detention, particularly as he was wrongfully classified as a gang member because of tattoos that simply say “mom” and “dad” with crowns.
This misclassification highlights the systemic issues within the deportation process and underscores the need for greater scrutiny and legal oversight.
Lindsay Toczylowski, the president and CEO of Immigrant Defenders Law Center, which represents Hernández Romero and other detainees, has been outspoken about the need for greater advocacy on behalf of those wrongfully deported. She voiced gratitude for the congressional delegation’s efforts and emphasized the importance of continued media and political attention to these cases.
“We are 100 percent in the camp of ‘We need to shine a light on this,’” Toczylowski said. “The government wants to disappear these people, so we think talking about who these individuals are and making sure elected officials don’t forget about them is the most important lever we have to get them back.”
The delegation’s visit is seen as a critical moment in the fight for justice for the wrongfully detained individuals, but it also highlights the broader issues with the Trump administration’s approach to immigration and deportation.
The lack of accountability and the ongoing mistreatment of detainees represent a significant challenge to U.S. values of due process and fairness under the law. As the delegation works to hold the administration accountable, their efforts are also aimed at raising awareness about the broader implications of this crisis for all Americans, not just the affected individuals.
The families of Abrego Garcia and Hernández Romero have expressed their gratitude for the ongoing efforts of the Democratic lawmakers. Jennifer Vasquez Sura, the wife of Abrego Garcia, released a statement in support of the trip, praising the lawmakers for their commitment to securing her husband’s return.
“I’m fighting for Kilmar and for all the other Kilmars who have been unjustly deported without due process,” Vasquez Sura said. “We need Congress to keep showing up, both here and abroad, until justice is served and the rights of everyone are protected.”
The attention from the delegation, along with the ongoing media coverage, has kept the issue of wrongful deportations in the public eye. However, the pressure is mounting for the administration to address these concerns directly.
Rep. Ansari expressed the urgency of the situation, emphasizing that the moment is critical for protecting civil rights and ensuring that those who are wrongfully detained are given the fair treatment they deserve. “This is the moment we’ve been watching for,” she said. “If the president doesn’t listen to the Supreme Court, we will continue to press forward.”
As the situation develops, the role of elected officials in advocating for detainees and holding the administration accountable will be crucial. For the Democratic delegation, this trip represents just the beginning of their efforts to push for the return of U.S. citizens who have been wrongfully deported, and they are determined to keep the pressure on until justice is served.
The case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and Andry José Hernández Romero may be just the tip of the iceberg, but it has brought national attention to the broader issues of immigration reform and human rights that will continue to resonate in the years to come.
