Debate Over MS-13 Gang Member’s Deportation

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded to Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, who had expressed regret about his support for Rubio’s nomination after the deportation of MS-13 member Kilmer Abrego Garcia. Van Hollen stated that he felt remorse for his vote, especially in light of Garcia’s background as a gang member accused of domestic violence.

In response, Rubio remarked that even gang members Van Hollen may consider “safe” aren’t immune to deportation. “I have to tell you directly; your regret means I’m doing a good job,” Rubio commented once Van Hollen finished speaking.

Van Hollen found Rubio’s statement perplexing, calling it a “messed up statement.”

Rubio insisted, “We’ve deported gang members, including those you had a margarita with,” emphasizing the seriousness of Garcia’s criminal activities. He mentioned that evidence would support the view that Garcia was involved in trafficking.

Garcia, who entered the U.S. illegally from El Salvador in 2011, became known to authorities after he was spotted in a suspicious situation on a Tennessee highway in 2022. He was previously tied to a human smuggling case involving another illegal immigrant.

In 2021, Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vazquez Sula, sought a domestic violence order against him, citing multiple instances of abuse. Despite the evidence against him, Van Hollen made a trip to El Salvador in April, where he was photographed with Garcia at a restaurant, a visit that was funded by U.S. taxpayers.

Other congressional members also visited Garcia, some expressing their dissatisfaction with the actions of the previous administration. The current administration had called Garcia’s deportation a “business mistake,” but argued that due to his criminal history, his return to El Salvador was necessary. A recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court upheld this decision, but the president of El Salvador indicated he would not accept Garcia back during a meeting mid-April.