The battle for the Kilmar Abrego Garcia Deportation did not raise any comment, but President Nayib Bukele appeared to be popular among the Salvadorans in the US capital.
WASHINGTON – Good Friday afternoon on April 18th was warm and sunny in Washington, DC. This is a clean, dry entanglement before the marsh weather settles.
On the streets of the Mount Pleasant area, men from El Salvador, Guatemala and other Central American countries played cards at the table, leaning over and shooting breezes. Salvadora’s restaurants, shops and street vendors are particularly thick on the ground in the neighborhood that has been around since the 1960s.
People flocked to the Catholic Church, the Temple of the Sacred Heart, and flocked to living evidence of the strong Catholic faith that anchored much here.
Elsewhere in the country’s capital, politicians are divided into Salvadra President Naibe Bukere, working together to crack down on crime and illegal immigration.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). began on territory just 3.5 miles from Mount Pleasant and has returned after a recent visit to Deporty’s Kilmer Abrego Garcia.
At Mount Pleasant, the famous Abrego Garcia incident apparently did not register with locals. As the incident and how Bukere handled continues to generate heated debate in American politicians and media, most Salvadoran and Salvadoranian Americans interviewed by the Epoch Times have expressed his strong approval.
“Bucquel No. 1!” Jose said. He said he had been in the United States for 27 years.
What was El Salvador before Buquer?
Jose imitated stab wounds and robbers: “Gimme, Gim!”
“Now,” he said, “it’s very good.”
The energetic 72-year-old dismissed concerns about the treatment of prisoners in the country, saying that only a small portion of the population opposed Bukere’s enforcement. He recalls a previous era when his family in San Miguel, a metropolitan city in eastern Salvador, had to pay rent every month to gangs.
Standing by Jose and Robert Ramos, another Buquere fan, Adrian, said he was happy to see Buquere’s actions against the MS-13.
Before Buquel, El Salvador was “not good,” he said.
Ramos told the Epoch Times he likes both Bukere and Trump.
Adrian, an immigrant from El Salvador in Washington to the United States on April 18, 2025. Nathan Worster/Epoch Times
Robert Ramos, an immigrant from El Salvador in Washington, on April 18, 2025. Nathan Worster/Epoch Times
A block away, another man named Jose said he first arrived in the United States from El Salvador 31 years ago. He also said he liked the leader of his country of origin.
A small store further down the street sent money to groceries, toys and, importantly, family and friends from other countries. Esmerelda took an entry into the pen with a spiral-bound notepad, and a slow flow of men rang in and out.
Speaking through the translator’s application, Hongjuran said that the Salvadoran she works for is grateful to Bukel.
Living in the Mount Pleasant, Washington, April 18th, 2025. Nathan Worster/Epoch Times
Nelson of Honduras was one of Esmerelda’s clients. Through the translator, he said that Bukel was very good and changed El Salvador. He expressed his support for the arrest of the gang.
Neither Nelson nor Esmerelda were familiar with the Abrego Garcia incident.
Not all Salvadors in Washington who spoke with the Epoch Times were pro-buquere.
Jesus and Mary of Sorrow on Good Friday, outside the shrine of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Washington on April 18, 2025. Nathan Worster/Epoch Times
Analemos, who worked at a fruit stand in nearby Columbia Heights, seemed unfamiliar with the Abrego Garcia incident. She expressed concern about the massive detention of a suspect’s gang member at the Terrorism Confinement Centre in El Salvador before the trial, saying that such individuals should use another prison.
Public opinion could change. But on Good Friday, Lemos-like voices appear to be a minority in the Salvadora River belt in the District of Columbia.
