“I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance,” wrote Van Hollen. “I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return.”

Of course, to any normal person with a sense of justice, Van Hollen’s trip didn’t look like “grandstanding,” it looks like a genuine demonstration of compassion and concern for the rule of law.

While Trump and his lapdog Republicans are content to let Abrego Garcia rot in a brutal prison — despite the Trump administration already admitting in court that he was accidentally deported due to an “administrative error” — Van Hollen is boldly taking action to uphold this man’s rights.

By refusing to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia, Trump is openly defying the Supreme Court. He has proudly staked out his place as the most lawless president in American history.

This scandal is an absolute nightmare for the Trump administration. They have no evidence for their smears that Abrego Garcia is a gang member and no moral argument for keeping him imprisoned.

Instead, Trump and far-right El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele are doubling down on this illegal authoritarian detainment as a display of brute power. In the process, they’re alienating the entire civilized world.