## Dispute Surrounds Deportation of Alleged MS-13 Member
The case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national deported to El Salvador’s high-security Terrorist Confinement Center (CECOT), has ignited a political firestorm and fueled accusations surrounding his deportation. While Democrats portray him as an unjustly treated “Maryland man,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains he is a confirmed member of the MS-13 gang, justifying his removal from the United States.
According to court records released by DHS, Garcia’s connection to MS-13 was established through multiple avenues.
- In 2019, Prince George’s County Police Department discovered Garcia loitering with known MS-13 members in a Home Depot parking lot, alongside illicit drugs.
- A subsequent interview by the Prince George’s County Gang Unit revealed that a “past proven and reliable source” identified Garcia as an active member of MS-13’s “Westerns” clique, holding the rank of “Chequeo” under the moniker “Chele.”
Garcia was deported in March alongside hundreds of other alleged gang members. His attorneys contend he resided legally in the U.S. and lacks any gang affiliation.
The Supreme Court recently upheld a lower court’s order requiring the government to “facilitate” Garcia’s release from El Salvador, acknowledging that his deportation occurred before due process could be followed. However, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated definitively: “If they [El Salvador] want to return him, that’s not up to us.”
This stance has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from Democrats who claim Garcia was effectively “kidnapped” by the Trump administration.
- Representative Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) stated, “Kilmar Abrego Garcia was wrongly deported… We need to go there now to make sure he’s okay.”
- Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has traveled to El Salvador to visit Garcia in prison and advocate for his release.
His actions have been met with backlash, particularly from the mother of Rachel Morrin, a Maryland woman murdered by a Salvadoran illegal immigrant. She questioned why resources are being devoted to securing the release of an alleged gang member while victims of those gangs are overlooked.
DHS strongly refutes the narrative portraying Garcia as an innocent “Maryland man,” citing evidence that contradicts this portrayal:
- His wife sought a domestic violence restraining order against him, alleging physical abuse.
- A 2019 DHS interview revealed Garcia admitted to entering the U.S. illegally in 2012.
- A federal immigration court determined that Garcia failed to demonstrate he didn’t pose a danger due to his alleged gang membership.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized, “He is exactly where he belongs, home in El Salvador,” drawing a comparison between Garcia and Osama bin Laden, labeling both as “terrorists.”
According to DHS, Garcia was apprehended with “rolls of cash and drugs” and found wearing clothing associated with MS-13. The agency asserted that his deportation was inevitable given what they describe as his demonstrated involvement in criminal activities.
DHS spokesperson stated: “Kilmar Abrego Garcia is not a ‘Maryland Man’—he is an MS-13 gang member involved in human trafficking who entered the United States illegally,” and further criticized Senator Van Hollen’s actions, suggesting he prioritizes the release of a suspected criminal over the safety of American constituents.
