President Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, had a pointed suggestion for Democratic lawmakers planning to visit an illegal immigrant held in a high-security prison in El Salvador: visit their own sanctuary cities instead. Homan urged them to confront the issue of violent crimes committed by illegal immigrants in the communities they represent and take a stand where it matters most—at home, the Washington Times reported.
“I can’t believe there’s any Democrat politician that does not want public safety threats out of their community,” Homan said. “Why would they rather go down to El Salvador than fix the problem we just talked about in Maryland?” His remarks come as Democrats have voiced strong objections over the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador who had been living in Maryland. An immigration judge identified him as an MS-13 gang member and approved his removal, though the ruling did not authorize deportation to his home country.
“Fix the problem with Boston. Fix the problem that just happened in Washington state,” Homan noted, per the Times. “Two illegal aliens tortured a woman and left her for dead by drilling on her to get her to give them her money, access to her ATM stuff, but [the Democrats] are going down to El Salvador. It makes zero sense.” Democrats, led by Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, stated they would travel to El Salvador if Garcia was not back in the United States by midweek. While there, they would check on his condition and discuss his release, the Times added.
“We must all stand as a united front against the kidnapping and illegal detention of Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador,” Rep. Maxwell Frost, Florida Democrat, said on social media, replying to Van Hollen. “Senator, I am willing to join you and help Organize other members of the House to do the same.” Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona responded as well, saying she was “ready to join” fellow Democrats going to El Salvador to demand Abrego Garcia’s return.
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said Monday he will not return a citizen deported by the U.S. last month, labeling the individual a “terrorist” and calling the idea of releasing him from custody in El Salvador “preposterous.” Bukele, who previously met with President Trump at the White House, asserted that his government now holds full jurisdiction over Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
The Trump administration, for its part, shows no indication of backing down in its clash with judges seeking Garcia’s return. The State Department maintains that he is beyond U.S. reach. In a filing over the weekend, the administration informed a federal judge that Abrego Garcia is “alive and secure” in a terrorist detention facility in El Salvador, where he is being held under that country’s “sovereign, domestic authority.”