One of the songs on Marvin Gaye’s influential album What’s Going On (a statement, not a question) is “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler).” I want to adapt the title to make a verb of United States Senator Chris Van Hollen (Dem., MD), as in “TDS Blues (Make Me Wanna Van Hollen).” To “Van Hollen” is to make a fool of yourself in the service of an unworthy cause. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
Van Hollen went down to El Salvador to do the work that the job Americans — the American president, anyway — won’t do. Senator Van Hollen seeks to restore the deportable illegal alien, wife beater, and apparent MS-13 gangbanger to his happy home in Maryland, where he can vote to return Chris Van Hollen to office! This is important work.
Senator Van Hollen documented his “fight” for Abrego Garcia on X. He’s “fighting” for the gentleman in detention in El Salvador. “Fighting” is the motif of his reports.
I want to collect Van Hollen’s reports here in chronological order. Senator Van Hollen documented his personal journey each step of the way. Here he is at the airport about to depart.
I’m about to board my flight to El Salvador, where I hope to meet with senior government officials to discuss the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
I also hope to see Kilmar and check on his condition — and remind him that we won’t stop fighting until he’s home. pic.twitter.com/dunE0lytIb
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) April 16, 2025
Senator Van Hollen announced his arrival in El Salvador while being driven to the United States embassy.
I just landed in San Salvador a little while ago, and I look forward to meeting with the team at the U.S. embassy to discuss the release of Mr. Abrego Garcia.
I also hope to meet with Salvadoran officials and with Kilmar himself. He was illegally abducted and needs to come home. pic.twitter.com/MzKe7U8Wwr
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) April 16, 2025
Senator Van Hollen appeared to have run into an impediment, but he didn’t let him get it down. He kept “fighting.”
We were just denied entry into CECOT — the notorious prison in El Salvador where Mr. Abrego Garcia is being illegally held.
We were there for one simple reason: to check on his well-being, which his family and lawyers have not been allowed to do. We won’t stop fighting. pic.twitter.com/yG2b7N6Nvn
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) April 17, 2025
Before long, however, he was making progress. His “fight” actually didn’t seem to meet much resistance. Senator Van Hollen reported to his friends in the press. What a day it’s been and it’s not over yet.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was illegally abducted and is being held in a notorious prison in El Salvador — barred from contacting his family or lawyers.
I’m speaking to the press now after we were denied access to the prison to check on his condition. Tune in: https://t.co/mxEzpYmkwY
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) April 17, 2025
I’m not entirely sure that Senator Van Hollen is a reliable narrator.
I’ve been in El Salvador all day fighting for the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia.
The Trump Admin can lie all they want, but the Court said they failed to show he was part of MS-13. This is about bringing home a man they ADMIT should’ve never been abducted. I won’t rest until then. pic.twitter.com/ZNaaY4NQK3
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) April 17, 2025
Success! Senator Van Hollen met up with the object of his desire and conveyed a “message of love.” He is on a first-name basis with “Kilmar.” They have quickly become friends. Does this make you “wanna Van Hollen”? Pin it, Senator Van Hollen!
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. pic.twitter.com/U9y2gZpxCb
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) April 18, 2025
The president of El Salvador provides a “diverse” perspective on Van Hollen’s “fight.”
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the “death camps” & “torture”, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!🍹 pic.twitter.com/r6VWc6Fjtn
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) April 18, 2025
The New York Post and the Daily Mail report on Senator Van Hollen’s journey. You wouldn’t know it from Senator Van Hollen’s report, but President Bukele may have landed the most effective blow.
