White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt recently took aim at Democrats and the media for their defense of illegal immigration, particularly regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 member, who was returned to the U.S. on Friday. He had been deported to a mega prison in El Salvador back in March to face federal charges related to human smuggling and conspiracy.
In a statement to Fox News, Leavitt asserted that the Grand Jury indictment against Abrego Garcia highlighted the misguided stance of Democrats and their supporters in the media. “They were once again played like fools,” she remarked.
Leavitt emphasized that Abrego Garcia was not an innocent “Maryland man,” but rather a “terrorist” and illegal immigrant involved in trafficking vulnerable individuals, especially women. She also referenced Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, who visited El Salvador in April as a show of solidarity with Abrego Garcia.
“Now, Abrego Garcia is back to face justice in America,” Leavitt stated. “Democrats, including Senator Van Hollen, and journalists who defended this criminal should apologize to his victims. The Trump administration is committed to holding criminals accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Prior to his deportation, Abrego Garcia had resided in Maryland. According to his indictment, he was crucial in a human smuggling operation that spanned nearly a decade and was described as a full-time smuggler, actively transporting women, children, and members of MS-13 across the U.S.
In related developments, Fox News Digital obtained bodycam footage from a Tennessee Highway Patrol traffic stop in 2022, which revealed Abrego Garcia with eight other men in his vehicle. Troopers expressed suspicion, suggesting he was transporting individuals for profit. During the stop, law enforcement found $1,400 in cash and identified Abrego Garcia on a National Crime Information Center alert for gang-related activities, although ICE did not respond at the time.
Interestingly, despite the serious allegations against him, media outlets continued to refer to him as the “Maryland Man,” including prominent publications like the Washington Post and the New York Times. Fox News contributor Guy Benson noted this in his social media posts, while Axios and USA Today also used similar descriptors.
