President Trump’s top border advisor, Tom Homan, unloaded on Senator Chris Van Hollen after the Democrat from Maryland took a taxpayer-funded trip to El Salvador to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia—a deported illegal immigrant the Trump administration has identified as a public safety threat with MS-13 ties.
“A U.S. senator flew to El Salvador on your dime to meet with a gang member,” Homan said. “This is who they choose to defend—not the American families who suffer because of open border chaos.”
Abrego Garcia’s removal from the U.S. has become a flashpoint in the immigration debate. Though immigration officials described his deportation as an “administrative error,” the Trump administration maintains that he is a national security risk. Informant reports and photographic evidence reportedly link him to MS-13 and human trafficking operations. His legal team continues to deny those allegations.
.@RealTomHoman : “A U.S. senator traveled to El Salvador on taxpayers’ dime to meet with a MS-13 gang member … How many Angel Moms and Dads has he met in the state of Maryland?” pic.twitter.com/dkpuxWGIMn
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 20, 2025
Despite these concerns, Van Hollen chose to travel to the prison where Abrego Garcia is being held in El Salvador, attempting to meet with him in person. The visit was denied by the Salvadoran government, but the symbolic message was clear—and not lost on critics.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt didn’t hold back, calling the trip a “sympathy tour for criminals” and blasting Democrats for caring more about the rights of illegal immigrants than the safety of American citizens. “While President Trump is meeting with Angel Moms, Democrats are flying overseas to meet with convicted gang members,” she said. “We are not the same.”
The controversy has also drawn the attention of the federal judiciary. A Biden-appointed district judge has ordered the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S., even threatening contempt proceedings. But President Trump has made his position clear: “This man is a foreign terrorist. He will never live in the United States of America again.”
Homan echoed that stance, saying the administration would not allow activist judges or political stunts to undermine national security. “The American people elected President Trump to enforce our laws—not to roll over every time a liberal judge or grandstanding senator gets emotional.”
As the legal battle continues, the broader message from the Trump administration remains firm: America will not play host to foreign criminals, no matter how many Democrats try to make them political martyrs.
The border fight isn’t just about policy—it’s about priorities. And according to Trump’s team, Senator Van Hollen just showed the country exactly where his are.