Claims made by attorneys for Kilmar Abrego Garcia — a Maryland resident deported to El Salvador — are under growing scrutiny following statements by both El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), who met with Abrego Garcia during a recent visit.
Abrego Garcia, who has been linked to MS-13 activity and accused of domestic abuse and human smuggling, was deported from the United States and held at El Salvador’s high-security facility known as the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, or CECOT.
Attorneys representing him allege that during his initial detention, he was subjected to physical and psychological abuse, including beatings, sleep deprivation, inadequate food, and denial of access to a bathroom.
Trump’s Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?
Legal filings claim Abrego Garcia lost over 30 pounds in two weeks while at CECOT, suffered visible bruises and swelling, and was forced to kneel overnight. He was reportedly transferred to a different facility approximately one month later.
The allegations received significant attention in American media outlets.
Once again the media is falling all over themselves to defend Kilmar Abrego Garcia. This illegal alien is an MS-13 gang member, alleged human trafficker, and a domestic abuser. The media’s sympathetic narrative about this criminal illegal gang member has completely fallen apart,… pic.twitter.com/LqvKFeotFG
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 3, 2025
This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year
NBC News reported, “Kilmar Abrego Garcia suffered psychological and physical torture in El Salvador prison,” while NPR and the Associated Press echoed similar claims.
However, new statements from El Salvador’s president and Sen. Van Hollen contradict the narrative being pushed by Abrego Garcia’s legal team.
During a press conference following his visit, Van Hollen was asked by reporters whether he saw any signs of abuse or mistreatment.
“I did not get that sense,” Van Hollen responded.
“Look, you never know, but I asked him if he was okay. He said ‘yes.’”
Van Hollen also noted that Abrego Garcia, who has a known blood pressure condition, had received medical care.
“So, on a very cursory examination, he appeared okay,” the senator added.
President Bukele addressed the matter directly in a statement posted to X on Thursday night.
“Apparently, anything a criminal claims is accepted as truth by the mainstream media and the crumbling Western judiciary,” Bukele wrote.
“But the man wasn’t tortured, nor did he lose weight. In fact, photos show he gained weight while in detention. There’s plenty of footage from different days, including his meeting with Senator Van Hollen, who himself confirmed the man seemed fine.”
Bukele questioned the narrative being promoted by several American outlets.
“If he’d been tortured, sleep-deprived, and starved, why does he look so well in every picture? Why would he gain weight? Why are there no bruises, or even dark circles under his eyes?”
The Salvadoran government also released video footage from Abrego Garcia’s time in detention — much of it appearing to be taken after his transfer from CECOT.
Apparently, anything a criminal claims is accepted as truth by the mainstream media and the crumbling Western judiciary.
But the man wasn’t tortured, nor did he lose weight. In fact, photos show he gained weight while in detention. There’s plenty of footage from different days,… pic.twitter.com/PzvLcCNzrK
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) July 3, 2025
While the video appears selectively edited, it does not show any visible signs of abuse.
In footage of Abrego Garcia boarding a flight back to the United States, he appears to be in good physical condition.
Senator Van Hollen’s visit took place several weeks after Abrego Garcia’s initial detention, during which his attorneys claim the abuse occurred.
However, critics have pointed out that Abrego Garcia did not raise any allegations of torture or mistreatment during his meeting with the senator.
As of now, there has been no independent medical report released verifying the physical abuse claims.
The U.S. State Department has not issued a statement on the matter, and no formal investigation has been announced by U.S. officials.
Meanwhile, El Salvador’s government continues to defend its prison conditions, stating that it has taken a firm stance against organized crime and illegal activity within its borders.
The CECOT facility has been central to El Salvador’s anti-gang operations.
BREAKING: We just got our hands on the bodycam footage of the “Maryland dad.” Kilmar Abrego Garcia was a suspect in a human trafficking operation in 2022. WATCH WHAT HAPPENED… pic.twitter.com/Cot5ZHTUGz
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) May 2, 2025
Celebrate Summer with this LIMITED EDITION Grizzly Trump Cooler! Exclusively on Mammoth Nation.