Van Hollen: Denying constitutional rights of ‘one man’ threatens ‘rights of everybody’

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) argued that if the Trump administration denies the rights of one man, his constituent Kilmar Abrego Garcia, they are threatening the rights of “everybody.”

Van Hollen joined CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, just after he returned to the United States from a trip to El Salvador to visit with Abrego Garcia, who was wrongfully deported.

“If we deny the constitutional rights of this one man, it threatens the constitutional rights of everybody in America,” Van Hollen said.

Van Hollen’s trip to the Salvadoran prison where Abrego Garcia is being held was sharply criticized. He said Abrego Garcia was completely in the dark about the fight to secure his release and the political debate over his deportation.

The Maryland senator criticized President Trump for the deportation, noting that the president has said he wants to remove violent criminals and has alleged Abrego Garcia is a member of MS-13.

“His argument is you can’t fight that and at the same time uphold people’s constitutional rights,” Van Hollen said. “That’s a very dangerous view.”

The Supreme Court left wiggle room for the administration to return Abrego Garcia, noting that they have to “facilitate” his return. The administration has pointed to El Salvador as the country responsible for Abrego Garcia’s return.

Host Dana Bash asked Van Hollen if he would accept a situation in which Abrego Garcia returned home, was found to be in the country illegally, and was then deported.

The senator said he would accept any outcome as long as Abrego Garcia was given his due process rights. Abrego Garcia was given deportation protection from a 2019 court ruling.

“I’m OK with whatever the rule of law dictates. But right now, we have a lawless president,” Van Hollen said.

“We have a lawless president who is ignoring the order of the Supreme Court of the United States to facilitate his return. That’s what’s going on right now,” he continued. “That is what is a risk to all of us.”