Democrats are now flying to El Salvador to advocate for an alleged MS-13 gang member’s return to the U.S. while ignoring American victims of migrant crime in their own districts.
In a stunning display of misplaced priorities, Democratic lawmakers including Senator Chris Van Hollen are mounting an international campaign to free Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an undocumented immigrant with alleged MS-13 gang ties who was deported to El Salvador under the Trump administration. While Democrats claim Garcia was “illegally abducted” and demand his return to the United States despite a criminal background, former ICE Director Tom Homan and Trump officials have condemned these efforts as political theater that prioritizes criminals over American victims. The controversy highlights the deepening divide in immigration policy approaches as Democrats pursue sanctuary policies despite legitimate public safety concerns.
Democrats Choose Foreign Gang Member Over American Victims
In what can only be described as political theater of the absurd, Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland has decided that the most pressing issue deserving of his attention isn’t the murder of Rachel Morin by an illegal immigrant in his own state. No, he’s jetting off to El Salvador to demand the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 gang member who was rightfully deported from the United States. This spectacular misalignment of priorities demonstrates everything wrong with the Democratic approach to immigration – criminals’ rights trump American citizens’ safety every single time.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung didn’t mince words about this bizarre diplomatic mission: “Chris and his bedwetting friends have shown more concern and sympathy for an illegal MS-13 gang member than victims of horrific migrant crimes. He is a complete disgrace to his office and should be thoroughly shamed for his disgusting actions.” The Trump administration maintains its decision was proper, despite a Supreme Court order suggesting Garcia’s return. Meanwhile, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has already stated his country won’t be sending Garcia back to the U.S. – a rare instance of common sense in this circus.
Tom Homan to Democrats looking to travel to El Salvador and "demand" Kilmar Abrego Garcia's release:
"Good luck with that…
…Every time I read a story about this, it's 'Maryland father'…They don't mention he's a member of MS-13, a designated terrorist group, one of the… pic.twitter.com/02cZlFCBOw
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 15, 2025
Tom Homan Exposes the Left’s Backwards Priorities
Former ICE Director Tom Homan, who has been named as Trump’s border czar, didn’t hold back when addressing this Democratic publicity stunt. “I’m just as disgusted that any congressional representative is going to run through El Salvador to his aid. It’s just disgusting,” Homan stated, cutting through the political theater. He correctly pointed out that Garcia “wasn’t abducted” as Democrats dramatically claim – he was an MS-13 gang member classified as a terrorist who was removed from the country, eliminating a public safety threat.
“He wasn’t abducted. He’s an MS-13 gang member, classified as a terrorist that was removed from this country, so we got rid of a dangerous person. An El Salvadoran national was returned to the country of El Salvador, so he’s home.” – Tom Homan
The contrast couldn’t be clearer: While Van Hollen and his colleagues Cory Booker and Robert Garcia plan taxpayer-funded trips to advocate for an alleged gang member, the mother of Rachel Morin – a woman brutally murdered by an illegal immigrant – testified before Congress with barely a response from these same Democrats. Homan pointed out this shameful hypocrisy: “The murder of Rachel Morin… if you’re not human… your heart wasn’t broken. It [happened] in his state, but rather than taking care of the constituents in his state, the victims of illegal crime in his state, he’s going to run to El Salvador to protect MS-13 terrorists.”
"Tom Homan rips Democrats seeking to aid deported MS-13 suspect: 'Disgusting'" https://t.co/fhiWgReeRI
— Trump Posts on 𝕏 (@trump_repost) April 16, 2025
The Coming Crackdown on Sanctuary Policies
This case illustrates why the incoming Trump administration has promised to take a hardline approach against sanctuary policies that shield criminal aliens from deportation. “No more Sanctuary Cities! They protect the Criminals, not the Victims. They are disgracing our Country, and are being mocked all over the World,” Trump has declared, preparing to withhold federal funding from jurisdictions that maintain these dangerous policies. This isn’t political rhetoric – it’s a necessary response to Democratic leaders who consistently prioritize illegal immigrants over public safety.
“No more Sanctuary Cities! They protect the Criminals, not the Victims. They are disgracing our Country, and are being mocked all over the World. Working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!” – Donald Trump
While Democrats claim their sanctuary policies allow “noncitizens to participate in society without fear of deportation,” the reality is they create consequences that fall hardest on American citizens. Garcia was allowed to remain in the U.S. in 2019 despite his gang affiliations, which his wife and lawyer now conveniently deny. The result of such policies is predictable – more tragedies like Rachel Morin’s murder, more families destroyed, and more Democratic politicians flying to foreign countries to advocate for the wrong people while ignoring their actual constituents.
