Trump Officials and El Salvador President Stand Firm Against Return of Alleged MS-13 Member
Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized Democrats and the media for advocating the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 gang member, to the U.S.
In a heated discussion on ‘Hannity,’ U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed strong opposition to the efforts of some Democrats to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back to the United States. Garcia, an El Salvadoran national, was deported to a high-security prison in El Salvador following allegations of domestic violence against his wife, detailed in court records obtained by Fox News. Bondi emphasized the severity of Garcia’s actions, describing them as ‘horrific’ and pointing out that he is now rightfully imprisoned.
The controversy escalated when the Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s order to facilitate Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador, a decision that both Trump administration officials and El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele resisted. Bukele stated he lacked the authority to ‘smuggle a terrorist into the U.S.,’ aligning with the Trump administration’s stance against Garcia’s return.
The situation drew sharp criticism from Democrats, including Senator Chris Van Hollen, who traveled to El Salvador to advocate for Garcia’s return, claiming he was ‘illegally abducted’ from the U.S. This move was met with backlash from Republicans, with Leavitt labeling the Democratic efforts as ‘deranged.’
Leavitt also highlighted the case of Rachel Morin, an American murdered by another El Salvadoran national, to underscore the broader implications of immigration and crime. She criticized Van Hollen for prioritizing an accused gang member over the concerns of victims’ families.
Despite disputes from Democrats and Garcia’s attorney about his alleged gang affiliation, new documents released by the Department of Homeland Security claim to definitively prove Garcia’s membership in the notorious MS-13 gang.