Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) criticized fellow Maryland lawmaker Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) for traveling to El Salvador to advocate the return of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national deported from the United States on March 15.
“I don’t know what the senator is doing, but he shouldn’t be spending taxpayer dollars on citizens of El Salvador when we have so many taxpaying Americans here at home,” Harris said on the Todd Starnes Show on Wednesday, adding that Americans are struggling with inflation and rising gas prices.
“I don’t know what the Senator [Chris Van Hollen] is doing but he shouldn’t be spending taxpayer dollars to go after a citizen of El Salvador to bring him back to the United States.” pic.twitter.com/5WuWHPQD3s
— Rep. Andy Harris, MD (@RepAndyHarrisMD) April 16, 2025
Van Hollen, in a video shared from the airport Wednesday morning, said the trip’s goal is to “let the Trump administration and the government of El Salvador know that we are going to keep fighting to bring Abrego Garcia home until he returns to his family.”
Harris responded sharply on social media, accusing Van Hollen of prioritizing a deported individual with alleged MS-13 connections over American crime victims.
“Where was @ChrisVanHollen when a Maryland jury found the illegal immigrant who murdered Rachel Morin guilty? Planning a trip to El Salvador to bring an illegal alien with MS-13 terrorist connections back to Maryland. Shameful,” Harris wrote on X.
Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) supported Van Hollen’s efforts, posting, “I’m grateful for @ChrisVanHollen’s leadership and his efforts to ensure Kilmar is safe and will be brought back home to Maryland.”
Governor, he is already home. He is an illegal immigrant. El Salvador is his home—not Maryland.
Senator Chris Van Hollen is using taxpayer dollars to bring an illegal immigrant with MS-13 gang connections back to Maryland.
This tells you all you need to know about Democrat… https://t.co/U9VHcbpxLl
— Rep. Andy Harris, MD (@RepAndyHarrisMD) April 16, 2025
Harris responded directly: “Governor, he is already home. He is an illegal immigrant. El Salvador is his home — not Maryland.”
The White House and several prominent Republicans also weighed in. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Democrats are “flying to El Salvador to demand the return of a violent illegal alien MS-13 gang member.”
Trump White House communications director Steven Cheung added, “Chris and his bedwetting friends have shown more concern and sympathy for an illegal MS-13 gang member than victims of horrific migrant crimes. He is a complete disgrace to his office.”
The Department of Homeland Security echoed that criticism in a statement, saying, “Senator Van Hollen has done more to bring an MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, and illegal alien back to Maryland than he has to help keep his constituents safe.”
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) also posted, “All of this is so bizarre. America is not his home. El Salvador is.”
National security adviser Mike Waltz added, “Democrats miss Biden’s open borders so much they are flying to El Salvador to personally try and bring violent criminals to the United States.”
CHRIS VAN HOLLEN ATTEMPTS TO MEET KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA
The government of El Salvador prevented Van Hollen on Wednesday from visiting Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia.
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who met with President Donald Trump earlier this week, stated that his government has no intention of releasing Abrego Garcia from the prison where he is being held.
