Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, has openly accused former President Donald Trump and his administration of plunging the United States into a constitutional crisis.
During an appearance on NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press,’ Van Hollen affirmed that the country currently finds itself in a constitutional predicament, stating, ‘Yes, we are.’
This statement follows Van Hollen’s recent trip to El Salvador, where he met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland citizen who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration last month.
Abrego Garcia’s deportation has ignited a significant legal and political battle, with the government’s claims in court suggesting he is now under the custody of El Salvador, and asserting that there is nothing they can do to facilitate his return.
Trump administration officials have further alleged that Abrego Garcia is affiliated with the MS-13 gang, a claim his legal team vehemently denies, insisting he has never been convicted of any crimes.
Democratic leaders like Van Hollen are raising concerns about due process, arguing that Abrego Garcia was not afforded the opportunity to contest his deportation before it occurred.
Recently, the courts have sided with Abrego Garcia and his legal representatives.
On Thursday, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to block a ruling that ordered the government to enable Abrego Garcia’s return to the United States.
The appeals court criticized the administration’s efforts, noting an argument was being made that they possessed a right to detain U.S. residents in foreign prisons without due process.
This ruling came shortly after the Supreme Court issued an unsigned directive mandating the Trump administration to ensure Abrego Garcia’s release from a Salvadoran prison and facilitate his return to the U.S.
In a pointed message directed at the Trump administration, Van Hollen remarked, ‘Donald Trump and his administration need to put up or shut up in court,’ expressing frustration over their handling of the situation through social media rather than legal avenues.
He emphasized a court’s responsibility, referencing judicial comments that emphasized the lack of evidence regarding Abrego Garcia’s alleged gang affiliations.
His message to the administration was clear: ‘If you have evidence, take it to the court. That’s where we litigate these things, and otherwise just shut up on social media.’
Van Hollen’s remarks were made while Trump took to social media, expressing criticism of what he called ‘radical left lunatics’ and ‘ineffective judges.’
On Easter, Trump shared a message via Truth Social, portraying a narrative that linked dangerous criminals with those trying to return to the country, labeling the situation as an ‘attack on our Nation.’
Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota echoed Van Hollen’s sentiments in another CNN interview.
She accused the Trump administration of disregarding court orders by failing to take action to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S.
Klobuchar advocated for judges to consider holding the administration in contempt of court, noting that courts possess the authority to appoint independent prosecutors for such cases.
Additionally, she branded the administration’s actions as cynical, suggesting they were using the case for a narrative purpose amid economic concerns in the nation.
‘They have picked out this case and this man because it’s about a subject that they want to keep in the news,’ Klobuchar argued, aiming to imply that this was a deliberate distraction from underlying issues.
On the same program, Republican Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana acknowledged that the deportation of Abrego Garcia was indeed a error, yet he questioned the current ability of President Trump to rectify the situation.
Kennedy noted, ‘I understand why the administration is bowed up and said, ‘We won’t admit it’s a mistake,’ because if they do, they’ll have their throats torn out.’
While disagreeing with Van Hollen’s assertion about the administration ignoring court orders, Kennedy maintained his belief in the rule of law, affirming, ‘I don’t believe that President Trump will defy a federal judge’s order. If he does, I’ll call him out on it.’
He expressed uncertainty regarding what could compel Trump to comply with judicial directives, referencing Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s stance on the matter.
‘What does he expect Trump to do?’ asserted Kennedy, referring specifically to a judge’s expectations regarding this complex situation.
In a separate ABC interview, Tom Homan, previously serving as the Trump administration’s border czar, defended the administration’s position, requesting El Salvador’s cooperation to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return.
Homan outlined the complexities by stating, ‘He’s also in custody. He’s a citizen and national of the country, El Salvador. El Salvador would certainly have to cooperate in that.’
Van Hollen, during his earlier appearance on ‘Meet the Press’, reiterated his position that Abrego Garcia was denied due process prior to his removal from the country.
He stressed that denying constitutional rights to one individual threatens the rights of many, saying, ‘This is not about one man. If you deny the constitutional rights of one man, you threaten the constitutional rights for everybody.’
In response to inquiries regarding potential actions Democrats could take to expedite Abrego Garcia’s return, Van Hollen indicated a willingness to exert pressure on the Salvadoran government.
He referenced prior comments made by Attorney General Pam Bondi, asserting that it was within Bukele’s power to release Abrego Garcia and that the U.S. would assist in his return.
‘Just open the prison, let him walk out,’ Van Hollen relayed as a suggestion he made to Bukele during his visit.
He further expressed that if a request for funding to manage detainees was made to Congress, there would be significant resistance from taxpayers against sending financial support for holding individuals who were illegally deported.
‘When they make that request to the Congress, I don’t think American taxpayers are going to want to spend one penny going to El Salvador to continue to hold somebody illegally and in violation of the United States Constitution,’ Van Hollen concluded.
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