Oregon lawmaker latest Democrat to visit El Salvador supporting deported illegal migrant Abrego Garcia
Democratic congresswoman Rep. Maxine Dexter from Oregon has announced her plans to travel to El Salvador to advocate for the release of deported illegal migrant Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia. This decision comes after Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s visit to El Salvador, where he met with Abrego Garcia, who was deported to the country’s “Terrorism Confinement Center” (CECOT) megaprison along with other suspected illegal migrant gang members last month.
In a statement, Rep. Dexter expressed her concern over the violation of Abrego Garcia’s due process rights and emphasized the importance of addressing this issue. She stated, “A legal U.S. resident has had his due process rights ripped away and is now being held indefinitely in a foreign prison. This is not just one family’s nightmare; it is a constitutional crisis that should outrage every single one of us. I will travel to El Salvador to confront this crisis head on. Our constitutional rights are on the line.”
The case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia has sparked a debate between Democrats and Republicans. The Trump administration has labeled Abrego Garcia as an MS-13 gang member with a history of human trafficking and domestic abuse. However, Democrats argue that he is a hard-working Maryland resident who has been unfairly deprived of his rights.
The Supreme Court has acknowledged that Abrego Garcia was subject to a withholding order in 2019 that prohibited his removal to El Salvador, making his deportation illegal. Democrats are calling for his release from custody in El Salvador and for his case to be treated as if he were never deported.
On the other hand, Trump administration officials have defended Abrego Garcia’s deportation, claiming that he is a member of the notorious MS-13 gang. They argue that he was correctly removed from the United States after Trump declared MS-13 a terrorist organization. Despite the conflicting viewpoints, Rep. Dexter and Sen. Van Hollen are determined to advocate for Abrego Garcia’s release.
Critics, including Republicans and Trump allies, have questioned the Democrats’ support for Abrego Garcia, citing his alleged gang ties and history of domestic abuse. They point to cases like Rachel Morin, a Maryland woman murdered by an illegal immigrant in 2023, as examples of the consequences of illegal immigration.
In response to the criticism, the White House released a split-screen image highlighting the contrasting approaches of Republicans and Democrats on illegal immigration. One image showed President Trump comforting Angel Mom Patty Morin, mother of Rachel Morin, while the other depicted Sen. Van Hollen meeting with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador.
The ongoing debate over Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia’s case underscores the complex and contentious nature of immigration policy in the United States. As Rep. Dexter prepares to travel to El Salvador to advocate for his release, the outcome of this situation remains uncertain.
