Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) publicly called for the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States, emphasizing that the controversial case is a matter of constitutional rights, not immigration policy.
Speaking to reporters at the Maryland State House, Moore said the detention of Abrego Garcia in El Salvador raises serious concerns about due process.
“Where Kilmar Abrego Garcia is being held right now is, in many ways, not the point,” Moore said. “The point is due process. He needs to come home so he can stand trial. And then, if he is found guilty, he will and should be held accountable.”
Gov. Moore said: “Bring Garcia home to stand trial.”
Home? He’s already home. https://t.co/MMc8MZWeRU
— Mark Fisher (@fisher4maryland) April 23, 2025
The Democratic governor praised Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) for his leadership on the issue after the senator traveled to El Salvador to meet with Garcia.
Moore, however, said he had no plans to make the trip himself, noting, “I can’t speak to what other people do.”
Moore’s comments come as Garcia’s deportation and reported gang affiliations have become the focus of national controversy. Garcia, an undocumented immigrant who was arrested in Maryland in 2019, has been accused by law enforcement and immigration officials of having ties to the MS-13 gang.
Critics of the deportation, including Van Hollen and several House Democrats who recently visited El Salvador, argue that Garcia’s rights were violated.
“This is not about immigration,” Moore reiterated. “It’s about whether we are going to follow the Constitution or not. Donald Trump alone does not get to decide whether a person is guilty. That’s for a judge to determine.”
Last week, Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) responded bluntly to Moore’s call for Garcia’s return, stating, “Governor, he is already home. He is an illegal immigrant. El Salvador is his home — not Maryland.”
On Wednesday, Del. Mark Fisher, R-Calvert, also criticized Moore in a post on X, formerly Twitter, writing, “Gov. Moore said: ‘Bring Garcia home to stand trial.’ Home? He’s already home.”
GEORGE CLOONEY PRAISES GOV. WES MOORE AS RISING DEMOCRATIC STAR
Moore maintained that his position is rooted in the Constitution.
“If the law was broken, there must be accountability. But we must ensure that due process is followed—because if we erode it for one, we erode it for all,” Moore said. “This is about whether we still believe in justice in this country.”
