Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador amid ongoing legal battles regarding Garcia's deportation back to the U.S. The senator's meeting with Garcia took place on Thursday evening after Van Hollen spent two days in El Salvador advocating for Garcia’s return. He posted a photo of their meeting on X but did not provide any updates on the status of Garcia, whose legal representatives are contesting the Trump administration's actions that led to his deportation.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen previously living in Maryland, was deported by the Trump administration in March despite an immigration court’s order that prohibited his removal from the U.S. Both former President Donald Trump and El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele stated this week that they see no basis for Garcia's return, even as Trump's administration has acknowledged that deporting him was a mistake. The U.S. Supreme Court has urged the administration to facilitate Garcia's return, yet the situation remains unresolved.
In a post on X, Van Hollen described his primary goal for the trip as meeting with Kilmar, which he accomplished. He also mentioned contacting Garcia's wife, Jennifer, to convey Garcia's message of love. The details of the meeting, including its arrangement and location, remain unclear. In a separate post, President Bukele released photos of the meeting, confirming that Garcia is in good health but asserting that he would continue to remain in El Salvador's custody.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently criticized the Trump administration's position on Garcia's deportation, calling it "shocking" that officials claimed they could not take action to return Garcia to the United States. A three-judge panel unanimously denied a request to suspend a judge’s order for sworn testimony from Trump administration officials regarding compliance with court orders to facilitate Garcia's return. Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, nominated by former President Ronald Reagan, emphasized the importance of the rule of law and urged the executive branch to uphold this value while there is still time.
In a separate incident, a tragic shooting at Florida State University involved a 20-year-old man named Phoenix Ikner, who used his mother’s former service weapon to open fire on campus. The attack resulted in the deaths of two men and injuries to at least six others. Law enforcement quickly responded and injured the shooter after he refused to comply with commands. The motive for the shooting remains unknown, but Ikner is believed to be a Florida State student.
In international news, U.S. airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Ras Isa oil port, controlled by Houthi rebels, reportedly killed 20 individuals and injured approximately 50. The U.S. military confirmed the strikes, which were part of an ongoing campaign to eliminate sources of funding for the Iran-supported Houthi terrorists. While the strikes were intended to diminish the Houthis' capabilities, reports of civilian casualties have sparked further controversy.
On the domestic front, the Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments regarding President Trump's restrictions on birthright citizenship in May. The executive order sought to limit citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who are in the country illegally, but multiple courts have blocked its implementation thus far.
In Belize, a troubling incident unfolded when a U.S. man hijacked a small plane, stabbing a pilot and two passengers before being shot by one of the injured individuals. The Tropic Air flight was reported to have circled for nearly two hours before landing safely at an airport, with law enforcement declaring a full emergency response.
Lastly, in California, the resentencing bid for Erik and Lyle Menendez has been postponed again due to disputes regarding evidence and prosecution involvement. The brothers were sentenced to life without parole for the 1989 murders of their parents, and ongoing discussions about their case remain a point of public interest. Concurrently, Luigi Mangione, indicted for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, faces federal charges that could lead to the death penalty, representing a significant escalation of legal actions against him.
