El Salvador Detains U.S. Citizen Amid Allegations of Financial Arrangement with U.S.

A series of reports and statements from U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen reveal that El Salvador is detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident, primarily due to financial arrangements with the U.S. government, rather than any independent legal basis or evidence of wrongdoing. Salvadoran officials admit that Garcia is being held under a contract where the U.S. pays El Salvador to imprison certain individuals, and they have not reviewed his case for criminal conduct. This arrangement, established during the Trump administration, has raised concerns about due process violations and the influence of financial incentives on foreign detentions. The Trump administration also reportedly negotiated discounted rates with El Salvador for holding suspected gang members deported from the U.S., further highlighting the transactional nature of these detentions. Public opinion polls show significant American support for deporting criminal non-citizens and even U.S. citizens to El Salvador's mega-prison, reflecting a hardline approach to crime and immigration that remains controversial. The White House has not commented on the legal and human rights implications of these practices, despite ongoing criticism.