Tom Homan, the White House border czar, recently defended the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man linked to the MS-13 gang. Homan’s remarks were made during an interview that aired on ABC. He emphasized that Garcia was a public safety and national security threat, stating, “We removed a public safety threat, a national security threat, a violent gang member from the United States.”
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen from Maryland visited El Salvador to meet with Garcia, which sparked criticism from Homan. He expressed concern over a U.S. senator using taxpayer money to meet with someone he described as an MS-13 gang member.
Van Hollen countered Homan’s statements by highlighting the circumstances surrounding Garcia’s deportation. He mentioned that Garcia was taken from the streets of Maryland and sent to El Salvador without knowing where he was going. Garcia ended up in CECOT, a notorious prison in El Salvador known for housing terrorists.
This incident has drawn backlash from Democrats and raised legal questions. A court had previously ordered that Garcia should not be deported, but the Trump administration claimed his deportation was due to a clerical error. Recently, the Supreme Court instructed the Biden administration to help facilitate Garcia’s return to the U.S.
The situation continues to unfold, with ongoing discussions about the implications of Garcia’s deportation and the role of government officials in such matters.