The Democrats in Washington, D.C. continue to take the hits. There’s no telling when that’ll stop.
And this Leftist Senator was just slapped in the face by this foreign government in a humiliating defeat.
El Salvador Rejects U.S. Senator’s Plea to Visit Deported Salvadoran in High-Security Prison
In a striking rebuke, El Salvador’s government turned away Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) on Wednesday when he sought to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man deported by the Trump administration. The move has ignited fierce criticism from Democrats and triggered a heated legal battle, spotlighting tensions over U.S. immigration policy and international agreements.
Van Hollen, determined to “check on [Abrego Garcia’s] condition — and remind him that we won’t stop fighting until he’s home,” traveled to El Salvador to confront the situation head-on. In a conversation with Salvadoran Vice President Félix Ulloa, reported by Axios, the senator pressed for answers about why Abrego Garcia is being held in the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), a high-security facility reserved for terrorists. Ulloa’s response was jarring: Van Hollen claimed the official said, “the Trump administration is paying El Salvador, the government of El Salvador to keep him.”
When Van Hollen requested a phone call with Abrego Garcia, Ulloa deflected, stating that such arrangements must go through the American embassy. The senator’s push to visit CECOT was similarly rebuffed, with Ulloa insisting that prior arrangements were required. The encounter left Van Hollen empty-handed, amplifying Democratic frustration over the case.
The Trump administration wasted no time firing back. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz took to X, lambasting Van Hollen and Democrats for their efforts. “Democrats miss Biden’s open borders so much they are flying to El Salvador to personally try and bring violent criminals to the United States,” Waltz wrote, framing the senator’s trip as a reckless bid to undermine immigration enforcement.
Abrego Garcia’s deportation has been a lightning rod for controversy. The Trump administration initially called it an “administrative error” but has since doubled down, justifying the move. White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, appearing on Fox News with host Bill Hemmer, was unequivocal:
“He is an illegal alien from El Salvador. In 2019, he was ordered deported. He [has] a final removal order from the United States. These are things that no one disputes. Where is he from? El Salvador. Where is he a resident and citizen of? El Salvador. Is he here illegally? Yes. Does he have a deportation order? Yes.”
The case stems from a deal between the Trump administration and El Salvador, which has been accepting deportation flights of alleged illegal immigrants suspected of ties to violent gangs like MS-13. Abrego Garcia, who lived in Maryland before his deportation, was placed on one such flight last month, despite a prior immigration judge’s order barring his return to El Salvador due to likely persecution. The judge’s 2019 ruling acknowledged Abrego Garcia’s alleged MS-13 ties but prohibited his deportation to protect him from harm.
This contradiction has fueled a fierce legal showdown. Last week, the Supreme Court weighed in, partially siding against the Trump administration by pointing to a district judge’s order that the administration must “facilitate,” but not necessarily “effectuate,” Abrego Garcia’s return. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis gave the administration a two-week deadline to comply with her discovery requests and demonstrate efforts to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S., intensifying the stakes.
A Troubling Pattern of Priorities
The fervor surrounding Abrego Garcia’s case raises questions about the Democratic Party’s focus. Critics argue that Democrats, exemplified by Van Hollen’s trip, appear more invested in defending the rights of deported individuals like Abrego Garcia—often accused of serious crimes—than in addressing the concerns of American citizens.
This perception is amplified by the party’s vocal opposition to Trump’s immigration policies, which prioritize deporting those with criminal ties or illegal status.
While Democrats frame their actions as a defense of human rights, the optics suggest a disconnect. Many Americans, grappling with economic pressures and public safety concerns, feel sidelined as their leaders champion cases like Abrego Garcia’s, who, despite his alleged MS-13 connections, is portrayed as a victim of unjust policy.
The decision to send a U.S. senator to El Salvador to advocate for a deported individual, while domestic issues like crime and homelessness persist, fuels accusations that Democrats are out of touch with their constituents’ needs.
This trend extends beyond Abrego Garcia. Democrats have consistently pushed for lenient immigration policies, including sanctuary cities and reduced penalties for illegal border crossings, which critics say incentivize lawbreaking.
The party’s reluctance to support stricter enforcement measures, paired with high-profile efforts to protect individuals facing deportation, paints a picture of a party more attuned to the plight of non-citizens than to the struggles of everyday Americans.
As the Abrego Garcia saga unfolds, it serves as a flashpoint in a larger debate about where Democratic priorities truly lie.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
