UPPER MARLBORO, Md.
— Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) traveled to El Salvador over Memorial Day weekend in an effort to conduct what he described as a “welfare check” on a Maryland constituent, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who is currently detained in a Salvadoran prison. The trip, however, ended without the meeting he sought, as Salvadoran officials denied access.
The visit comes on the heels of a similar trip made earlier this year by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who met with Salvadoran officials and raised concerns about human rights issues involving detained individuals with ties to Maryland. Ivey’s office confirmed the congressman’s intent was to check on the legal and physical status of Abrego Garcia, who has been accused of serious crimes including gang involvement and domestic violence.
According to Salvadoran law enforcement, Abrego Garcia is a Salvadoran national detained under President Nayib Bukele’s ongoing crackdown on MS-13 and other criminal networks. Despite claims from U.S. lawmakers that Abrego Garcia has connections to Maryland, Salvadoran authorities have classified the matter as a domestic legal issue and have restricted access.
Rep. Ivey was not granted entry to the prison facility where Abrego Garcia is held. Salvadoran officials provided no comment on the decision. “From the interviews with Glenn after spending the long Memorial Day weekend in El Salvador, he looks ‘tanned, rested and ready’,” the source added, referring to Ivey’s appearance post-trip.
The visit has sparked criticism in Ivey’s home district of Prince George’s County, where residents have questioned the congressman’s priorities. Since January, local police data reports 80 sexual offenses and over 400 incidents of domestic violence in the county.
Local concerns amid international focus
Critics have questioned whether Ivey’s international focus detracts from local issues. “If you are spending time and taxpayer funds to check up on an MS-13 gang-banger, when do you have time to check up on your actual constituents?” one resident commented.
The congressman’s team has not confirmed the full cost of the trip or if it was publicly funded. Ivey, a Harvard-educated former prosecutor, has long maintained that his work includes advocating for justice both domestically and abroad. However, the inability to meet with Abrego Garcia and the nature of the visit have drawn bipartisan scrutiny.
Questions have also been raised regarding the effectiveness of congressional intervention in the foreign criminal justice processes of sovereign nations. Legal experts point out that while the U.S. can monitor the treatment of individuals with ties to America, it holds no authority in dictating another country’s internal legal proceedings.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio referenced a previous meeting between Van Hollen and Salvadoran officials during a Senate hearing, jokingly commenting on the “Van Hollen Margaritas” that appeared in national media coverage of that trip. The reference was widely seen as an acknowledgment of the political optics involved in such visits.
Constituent connection remains unclear
Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s connection to Maryland remains partially unverified. While Democratic lawmakers claim he previously resided in the state, Salvadoran records identify him as a Salvadoran citizen detained under their national security policy. U.S. consular officials have not released further details about his residency or immigration status.
As Rep. Ivey returns to Maryland, the visit’s fallout continues. With mounting local concerns and rising violent crime statistics, questions persist about how congressional representatives balance constituent advocacy with international engagement.
