Dem leader distances himself from congressional trips to El Salvador: report
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is reportedly advising fellow Democrats to put a hold on trips to El Salvador focused on the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. This shift in strategy comes amidst internal disagreements within the party on how to navigate border security and immigration enforcement optics leading up to the 2026 cycle.
While publicly stating that Democrats are committed to bringing Abrego Garcia back from a Salvadoran prison, Jeffries has been quietly discouraging more lawmakers from traveling to the country, according to sources. A senior House staffer summarized the leadership’s stance as wanting to slow down the El Salvador-related activities.
Progressives have rallied around Abrego Garcia’s case, viewing it as emblematic of what they perceive to be unconstitutional deportations under President Trump’s immigration crackdown. However, moderates are growing increasingly uneasy, pointing out the political risks of aligning with an individual with a questionable past.
Despite previously demanding Abrego Garcia’s immediate return to prevent potential harm, Jeffries has not publicly commented on whether he supports the tactic of sending congressional delegations to El Salvador. His spokesperson dismissed reports of backing away from the issue as “thinly sourced,” but did not explicitly deny the claims.
The stakes are significant, as Abrego Garcia, who was deported alongside over 200 others, has been linked to the MS-13 gang and was mentioned in a 2022 Homeland Security probe into human smuggling. While not formally charged, he was apprehended while transporting undocumented individuals, with court records in Maryland documenting allegations of domestic violence, leading to him being labeled a “violent repeat offender” by a judge.
Despite these concerns, Democratic lawmakers like Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Reps. Maxwell Frost, and Robert Garcia have traveled to El Salvador recently to draw attention to Abrego Garcia’s detention. However, some critics within the party fear that continued focus on the case and perceived sympathetic trips could have negative repercussions.
“There’s a moral argument to be made,” a Democratic aide mentioned to The Bulwark, “but it’s not clear if this is the right poster case, especially at this political juncture.”
The internal divisions among Democrats highlight the complexities of navigating immigration issues in a politically charged environment. Finding a balance between advocating for individuals in need while considering broader implications remains a challenge for the party as they prepare for the upcoming election cycle.
