Maryland Sen. Van Hollen says he finally met with Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia

Holy shit! He's alive? I did not expect that.
- That's why I'm in these threads saying it's worth it to fight this out in every avenue. In the courts, in the legislatures, in the media, on social media, in the streets.
  Trump claimed to be able to deport people without courts being able to review. The Supreme Court rejected that view, and now the Trump administration has to spend the effort defending its actions in court.
  Under tough questioning by a judge in a case aggressively litigated by Kilmar's family, Trump's lawyers then acknowledged an administrative error was made and that Kilmar shouldn't have been deported. They fired the first lawyer to concede it, but the Solicitor General conceded it, too, and the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that Trump has to help get him back.
  Sen. Van Hollen went to El Salvador to meet with him. Many comments online, especially here on Lemmy, openly commented that it was futile and that Kilmar was dead. But Sen Van Hollen doesn't give up that easily, showed up in country and was turned away. Then he stayed and fought for access, and was able to meet with him and ensure that he was healthy and safe.
  Meanwhile, the Reagan appointee on the appellate court, Judge Wilkinson, has published a scathing ruling that the Trump administration owes the courts and Kilmar Abrego Garcia much more. Note that his concurring opinion last time around essentially became adopted as the 9-0 Supreme Court opinion.
  There's cynicism all around, but most of what has already happened is the type of stuff that the cynical pessimists would've never expected to happen in this case.
  The brazen lawlessness of the Trump administration is currently backfiring, and now things are escalating into full blown discovery into the ICE/DHS deportation decisions,
  The message is that this fight is still worth fighting. Every little step matters.
  And when we force these issues into the court for plainclothes arrests, arbitrary revocation of student visas or other authorizations to be in the country, we force the Trump administration to actually say what they're doing, to be scrutinized and analyzed.
  The lawsuits are bringing transparency and may still bring results, so quit with the doomerism. Even if we don't win every fight, the struggle continues, and we force the other side to expend their resources and effort in a way that makes it harder for them to accomplish their agenda.
  Donate to the nonprofits fighting for this stuff. Volunteer your time. This fight is worth fighting.
  
  This 100%
  We should all apply this sentiment from Churchill to the current situation. Every little act of resistance adds up.
  Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.
  
  You’re right. I still thought he was long dead, and am surprised he isn’t.
  
  This comment is light in a dark dark tunnel. Please post a link that shows how you know this, as it will inspire more people if it's backed up.
  
  It's good to remember that Trump's entire MO is to never concede. MAGA politicians have adopted this strategy because it works so well against politicians who adhere to decorum and good faith politics.
  It's essentially a game of chicken, the first one to give in losses.
- Good news in an otherwise terrible series of events
- Kinda should be a lesson to us all not to start or spread rumors as serious as death and torture, until there's actual evidence. That kind of lying is what maga does.

I'm very confused by all of these pictures. Did they pull him out of Supermax and just give him street clothes for the photo ops, then throw him back in?
- of course. optics, optics, optics. we have seen the real photos, the headown frog marching, the packed cells. we know there was a shaved head under that ball cap. puppy killer ICE barbie and others have all done their photo ops.
  the important thing is we know there is a live body to bring back. now we keep fighting for due process for each and every person trump has illegally shipped to hell. once they are adjudicated, then laws can be applied to each fairly.
  
  "Applying the laws fairly" would start with shipping them all back home and compensating them $10k/day they were detained without due process.

as has been said in other posts - please send a message of support to Sen. Van Hollen. my partner and I have done so and we are also sending a donation.

This somehow makes it worse now
- I'm sure these photos were a condition of seeing him. Nothing to see here, folks! Definitely no torture happening, go back to sleep
  
  Not only that, but that dude is obviously drinking coffee, and those wine glasses are filled with untouched water.
- Whose the ominous dude in the black suit overseeing the photoshoot?
  
  Considering he has a notepad and pen out, I’m guessing he’s a translator.

"I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance," Sen. Van Hollen said. "I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return."
- “I ain’t sayin SHIT until this plane lands.”

Clothed and sipping drinks? At this point he might as well just go home with the senator, he's there illegitimately anyway as they have admitted.

Is it okay for me to still be suspicious that these photos aren't real ? Why no video ?
Wtf. Why?
And they put him in regular clothes and a hat.
Idk. I hope he is alive. I can't say I'm convinced yet.
Can't trust nothing anymore. You know?
- The prison wardens there are mindful of their media image.
  
  Sure. But it's fucking weird right. ?
  Like we know where this guy sleeps. We know where he sits all day. We know what clothes he wears.
  And then show him in regular clothes being given a cocktail. Why the hat? Hiding bruises or something?
  It's just crazy shit.
  There are only 3 photos. Guy never looks at camera directly for any of them.
  No video.
  Idk. That's weird too.
  I'm going to stick with my suspicion that the guy may not be alive until I see some better evidence.
  Booker is planning on going down there too.
  Let's see how that goes.
  In these trying times when everything is crazy, I can't take anything at face value. You feel me?
  
  Honestly for what? The widely known and recognized notoriously unsafe and unjust prison dresses people nicely?
  Where do you cash that in?

In today's statements, Sen. Van Hollen said that Abrego Garcia said he was transferred out of CECOT last week, to another prison. The Senator believes that the public pressure is influencing the actions of the Salvadorean government. The attention on this case is working, and is making a difference.
In the courtroom where his case is being heard in Maryland, protesters from the street can be heard. This shit makes a difference.
Let's keep it up.

At least he knows that people are aware of his situation, and that his family is safe, and now they'll know he's alive. Up until that moment, he had no idea if his family even knew what happened to him. That's at least a small measure of comfort for him and his family.
Also, he'll be able to go back to prison and tell the rest that they havent been forgotten, and there is a movement in America to end this abomination.
There's a long ways to go, but this was a MAGA blink.

If the place isn't a torture center and death camp, why did the senator have to meet this guy at a hotel? Usually jails have visitor areas but for some reason this one doesn't. Gee, I wonder why.

Why would he let them drag him back there. What an absolute coward