Dem senator says Abrego Garcia situation ‘not going to end well’ for Trump

Democratic Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley issued a stern warning to President Donald Trump at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, cautioning that his aggressive deportation efforts will not bode well for him in the long run.

Merkley’s remarks came in response to questions about Trump’s deportation policies and the Democratic Party’s opposition to them, particularly their controversial visit to El Salvador to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Venezuelan man deported by the Trump administration on suspicion of gang affiliation.

Democrats have vehemently argued that Abrego Garcia was wrongfully deported and have challenged the Trump administration’s characterization of him as a gang member. Merkley emphasized the importance of due process in such cases, stating that it is a fundamental safeguard against arbitrary government actions that threaten individual freedom.

“I want President Trump to understand that this is about freedom, and his actions are undermining it,” Merkley asserted. “It will not end well for him because our country will respond, and we will defend our Constitution and our liberties.”

However, the White House pushed back against Merkley and other Democrats, criticizing their defense of Abrego Garcia, whom they described as a documented criminal residing in the U.S. unlawfully.

“If Democrats want to stake their claim on demanding the return of a violent illegal alien, wifebeater, and foreign terrorist, we are more than willing to oblige,” remarked White House spokesperson Kush Desai in response to Merkley’s comments.

In addition to the controversy surrounding Abrego Garcia, Democrats have also raised concerns over Trump’s decision to revoke student visas and deport non-citizen college students involved in organizing anti-Israel protests on campus. The Trump administration has cited national security concerns as the basis for enforcing immigration laws against visa holders engaged in activities deemed threatening to the country.

Furthermore, Trump recently signed an executive order targeting sanctuary city policies that limit local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The order aims to withhold federal funding from non-compliant jurisdictions and empower the Justice Department to take legal action to ensure compliance with federal immigration enforcement efforts.

As the debate over immigration enforcement and deportation policies continues to intensify, both Democrats and the Trump administration remain locked in a contentious battle over the balance between national security interests and individual rights.