President Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, suggested another destination for Democratic lawmakers planning to check on an illegal migrant deported to an El Salvador mega-prison.
He said they should visit the sanctuary cities in the states and districts they represent and take a stand against illegal aliens committing violent crimes in their communities.
“I can’t believe there’s any Democrat politician that does not want public safety threats out of their community,” Mr. Homan said. “Why would they rather go down to El Salvador than fix the problem we just talked about in Maryland?”
Democrats have been up in arms about an illegal immigrant from El Salvador who was living in Maryland before he was deported to his home country. The man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, was labeled a member of the MS-13 gang by an immigration judge and approved for deportation, though he was not supposed to be sent to his home country.
“Fix the problem with Boston. Fix the problem that just happened in Washington state,” Mr. Homan said. “Two illegal aliens tortured a woman and left her for dead by drilling on her to get her to give them her money, access to her ATM stuff, but [the Democrats] are going down to El Salvador. It makes zero sense.”
Democrats, led by Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, said they would travel to El Salvador if Mr. Garcia was not back in the U.S. by midweek. While there, they would check on his condition and discuss his release.
“We must all stand as a united front against the kidnapping and illegal detention of Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador,” Rep. Maxwell Frost, Florida Democrat, said on social media, replying to Mr. Van Hollen. “Senator, I am willing to join you and help Organize other members of the House to do the same.”
Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona chimed in, saying she was “ready to join” fellow Democrats going to El Salvador to demand Mr. Abrego Garcia’s return.
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said Monday that he would not send back one of his citizens who was deported by the U.S. last month, calling the man a “terrorist” and saying it was “preposterous” to think he should be released from custody in El Salvador.
Mr. Bukele, who met with Mr. Trump at the White House, said his government now has jurisdiction over Mr. Abrego Garcia.
The administration also shows no sign of capitulating in its battle with judges who want President Trump to bring back Mr. Abrego Garcia. The State Department says the deportee is beyond America’s reach.
The administration told a judge this weekend that Mr. Abrego Garcia is “alive and secure” in a terrorist prison in El Salvador, where he is being held under the “sovereign, domestic authority” of that government.
