Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey is set to lead a congressional delegation to El Salvador to meet with government officials and review the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national deported from the United States during the Trump administration.
Abrego Garcia, who was accused of having ties to the MS-13 gang, is currently imprisoned in El Salvador. The Justice Department confirmed those allegations in newly released documents this week. Despite the charges, the case has drawn attention from several Democratic lawmakers concerned about due process and the treatment of deportees abroad.
Growing Interest in the Case
According to Politico, Booker, who serves as the Senate’s fourth-ranking Democrat and is seen as a possible 2028 presidential contender, is organizing the upcoming visit. The trip is expected to involve meetings with Salvadoran leaders, including discussions about human rights and the justice system in the country.
Separately, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador earlier this week. His visit fulfilled a public commitment to personally assess Abrego Garcia’s situation should the detainee remain in custody. Van Hollen had also attempted to meet with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele during the leader’s recent trip to the United States.
Criticism from Victim’s Family
Van Hollen’s trip has drawn strong criticism from some U.S. residents, including Patty Morin, whose daughter, Rachel Morin, was murdered in 2023 by an individual in the country illegally. Speaking from the White House as a guest of Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Morin expressed frustration that taxpayer dollars were being spent on overseas visits related to non-U.S. citizens.
“I just don’t understand why a senator from Maryland, who barely acknowledged my daughter’s brutal death, is traveling to El Salvador to bring attention to someone who isn’t even an American citizen,” Morin said.
She went on to describe the emotional toll her daughter’s death had on the family, leaving five children without their mother.
What’s Next
The upcoming delegation led by Booker is expected to add to the debate over how the United States handles deportations involving alleged gang members and whether diplomatic engagement with other nations can impact their treatment after removal. No official date for Booker’s visit has been released.