El Salvador Denies U.S. Rep. Ivey Prison Visit With Kilmar Abrego

US Rep. Glenn Ivey at a rally for Kilmar Abrego. X/ @dcexaminer


May 27, 2025 Hour: 1:03 pm

This migrant is being held in El Salvador after being deported from the United States.

On Monday, U.S. Democratic Rep. Glenn Ivey denounced that Salvadoran authorities prevented him from visiting Kilmar Abrego in prison.

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Currently, this migrant is being held in El Salvador after being deported from the United States despite having legal status that should have protected him.

“I was here in El Salvador two years ago, but this time I came to visit Kilmar. I felt deeply disappointed and frankly angry because we were not allowed in to see him,” said Ivey, who represents the state of Maryland.

“We arrived and spoke with the people at the gate. They wouldn’t open the door or let us in. They said we had to go back to San Salvador to get a visit permit, which made no sense because I had already gone with the people responsible for admissions at the prison,” said the congressman, revealing that he informed Milena Mayorga, El Salvador’s ambassador to the U.S., of his intention to visit Abrego.

“We discussed the possibility of meeting with the vice president. I met with him two years ago when I was here before. But the key reason for the trip was to visit Kilmar to make sure he is OK and to talk about his legal rights,” Ivey said, adding that the requested meeting with Vice President Felix Ulloa also did not take place.

Meanwhile, Abrego’s family attorney, Chris Newman, called for “proof that he is alive,” noting there has been no word from him since May 17. The lawyer also demanded to know which prison he is in and whether he is receiving medical treatment.

“We want access to Mr. Abrego so he can receive legal services. He has a large team of attorneys representing him and winning in every U.S. court,” Newman emphasized.

Abrego, who lived in the state of Maryland, fled El Salvador due to extortion and threats he and his family received from the Barrio 18 gang, according to court documents filed by his defense.

He is one of more than 200 migrants — most of them Venezuelan — who were expelled from the U.S. and sent to a high-security prison where they have no access to family or legal counsel. Human rights advocates have described their situation as a case of “forced disappearance.”

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE