A US senator’s trip to El Salvador to meet a deported individual has ignited a political firestorm, with critics alleging he may have violated a 226-year-old law prohibiting unauthorized diplomacy.
Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, travelled to El Salvador to advocate for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported Salvadoran national suspected of ties to the MS-13 gang. The visit has drawn sharp criticism from conservative figures, who claim it breaches the Logan Act of 1799, which forbids US citizens from engaging in foreign negotiations without government approval.
The Logan Act, named after former senator George Logan, carries penalties of up to three years in prison or a fine for those who attempt to influence foreign governments in disputes involving the US. No one has been convicted under the law, and some legal experts describe it as a “dead letter” due to its rare use and vague wording.
Conservative commentator Roger Stone called for Van Hollen’s arrest, while the American Accountability Foundation urged the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate. The controversy echoes past instances where the Logan Act was invoked, notably against Michael Flynn in 2017 over contacts with Russia, though no charges were filed.
Van Hollen’s defenders argue his actions fall within his senatorial duties, with some noting the law’s questionable enforceability. The senator has not publicly commented on the allegations.
The incident highlights the persistence of archaic US laws, such as the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which allows the president to detain foreign nationals during wartime, and the Comstock Act of 1873, which could restrict reproductive health access. While many such laws remain on the books, their invocation is rare and often politically charged.
The debate over Van Hollen’s trip underscores deep divisions in US politics, particularly on immigration and foreign policy, as the nation grapples with the legacy of its oldest statutes.
