Maryland Governor Wes Moore Nixes Trip to El Salvador Amid Abrego Garcia Deportation Controversy

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has put his foot down: he will not be traveling to El Salvador to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the so-called "Maryland man" who was recently deported from the U.S. Moore, looking pretty sharp in a black tux at the White House Correspondents Dinner, confirmed his decision with a smile, saying he was planning on having a good night instead. Not exactly the diplomatic mission some folks were hoping for.

When pressed further about whether Abrego Garcia should be brought back to the U.S., Moore dodged the question with a polite smile and a "Have a great night." Now, that's some classic political sidestepping.

For those not caught up: Abrego Garcia's deportation has been the center of a political storm. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen even made a headline-grabbing trip to El Salvador to advocate for his release and return, with Moore previously expressing gratitude for Van Hollen's leadership on social media. "I’m grateful for @ChrisVanHollen’s leadership and his efforts to ensure Kilmar is safe and will be brought back home to Maryland," Moore posted earlier this month.

Despite the noise, Moore has stood firm, repeating that he has no intention of heading to El Salvador, even as fellow Democrats and lawmakers like Reps. Maxwell Frost and Robert Garcia joined the international advocacy effort.

Adding more fuel to the fire, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele claims Abrego Garcia has gang connections and refuses to allow his release, despite the U.S. Supreme Court ordering the Trump administration to "facilitate" his return. Abrego Garcia, initially held in the notorious Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) prison, has since been moved to a lower-security facility in El Salvador.

Moore summarized his stance last week: "This is a case about due process and following the Constitution," emphasizing the need for accountability and fair trial. But with both governments digging in their heels, it looks like no one's packing their bags for El Salvador anytime soon—except maybe politicians chasing headlines.