Chris Van Hollen meets with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador

The Maryland Democrat flew to the Central American country Wednesday with the goal of meeting with Abrego Garcia, who the Trump administration says was mistakenly deported.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen confirmed Thursday night that he has met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man whom the Trump administration said it mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March.

"I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return," Van Hollen, D-Md., wrote on X.

Images of Van Hollen’s meeting with Abrego Garcia were first posted online by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who has rebuffed calls to return Abrego Garcia to the United States.

Bukele said on X after the meeting that Abrego Garcia will remain in El Salvador’s custody “now that he’s been confirmed healthy.”

President Donald Trump lashed out at Van Hollen Friday morning in a post on Truth Social, saying the Democratic senator "looked like a fool yesterday standing in El Salvador begging for attention."