Republican Representative Mike Collins of Georgia has taken direct action regarding the activities of Senator Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, sparking a significant controversy.
In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Collins asserted that he personally modified the dedication plaque displayed outside Sen. Van Hollen’s office building. The altered plaque now identifies Van Hollen as representing El Salvador – a deliberate change, according to Collins’ statement.
“Hey [Sen. Van Hollen], I went ahead and changed your office plaque for you,” Collins wrote in the post.
This action follows a sustained line of criticism from Collins regarding Sen. Van Hollen’s travels to El Salvador, specifically his meetings with Kilmar Abrego-Garcia, an individual accused of affiliation with the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang and an illegal immigrant.
Collins has repeatedly branded Van Hollen as “traitorous,” arguing that the Senator’s actions demonstrate a prioritization of suspected criminal elements over American citizens. Collins famously declared, “If you’re going to advocate harder for illegal gang members than you do American citizens, don’t come back.”
The situation surrounding Abrego-Garcia has ignited debate amongst Democrats, many of whom contend that he was a Maryland resident entitled to due process and unjustly deported. The controversy centers on Abrego-Garcia’s history.
Background on Kilmar Abrego-Garcia:
- Abrego-Garcia entered the United States illegally in 2011.
- He was issued a deportation order back in 2019 but continued to reside unlawfully within the country.
- In 2019, the Prince George’s County Police Gang Unit identified him as a member of the MS-13 gang.
- Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) flagged Abrego-Garcia as a suspect in human trafficking following an incident in December 2022, involving eight individuals and a reported construction job in Maryland.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol Incident:
On December 1, 2022, a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper stopped Abrego-Garcia after observing him speeding. The trooper noticed eight individuals in the vehicle but no luggage. According to reports, Abrego-Garcia claimed he was transporting them from Houston, Texas, to Temple Hills, Maryland, for construction work, and that all eight individuals shared the same address as his residence. This prompted suspicion of a human trafficking operation.
Contextual Opposition:
Furthermore, recent events have amplified the criticism. President Donald Trump recently hosted Angel Mom Patty Morin at the White House. Morin’s daughter, Rachel, was tragically murdered in Maryland by an illegal migrant from El Salvador in 2023 – a victim of violence that further fueled tensions and highlighted accusations that Sen. Van Hollen has not adequately supported victims of violent crime related to immigration.
Collins’ office was contacted for comment regarding this matter, though no immediate statement was available at the time of publication.
