When a house is burning, most people would rush to save those inside rather than worry about the comfort of the arsonist. Yet in Washington, priorities often seem bizarrely inverted, especially when it comes to matters of immigration and border security. As the Trump administration works to protect American communities from dangerous criminal organizations, some lawmakers appear more concerned with the welfare of those very criminals than the citizens they were elected to represent.

The contrast couldn’t be starker as the Biden-era immigration policies fade into memory and President Trump’s team implements stricter enforcement measures. Over recent months, a significant deportation operation has been underway, removing illegal aliens with criminal backgrounds and gang affiliations from American soil. This initiative has specifically targeted members of MS-13, the notoriously violent transnational gang that has terrorized communities across the United States.

One particular destination for these deportees has been El Salvador’s Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), a maximum-security prison designed to house gang members and terrorists. President Nayib Bukele’s facility has received international attention for its strict conditions and role in El Salvador’s dramatic reduction in gang violence.

What might seem like a reasonable enforcement action to most Americans has sparked outrage among certain Democrats in Congress. A pair of House Democrats have formally requested authorization to conduct “welfare checks” on illegal aliens who were deported from the United States to El Salvador’s CECOT prison.

In a letter to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY), Reps. Robert Garcia (D-CA) and Maxwell Frost (D-FL) are seeking approval for a Congressional delegation to visit the facility. Their primary concern? The well-being of accused gang members who were deported after illegally entering the United States.

From ‘Breitbart’:

“We respectfully request authorization for a Congressional Member Delegation (CODEL) to visit the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), the maximum-security prison in Tecoluca, El Salvador,” Garcia and Frost write. “A Congressional delegation would allow Committee Members to conduct a welfare check on Mr. Abrego Garcia, as well as others held at CECOT.”

The lawmakers specifically want to visit 29-year-old Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom they claim was “wrongfully abducted” but whom the Trump administration identifies as an MS-13 gang member deported after illegally crossing the border in 2011. They also wish to check on 30-year-old Andry José Hernandez, described by the Democrats as a “LGBTQ makeup artist” with a pending asylum application.

Border Officials Push Back on “Abduction” Claims

Former Border Czar Tom Homan didn’t mince words when responding to these efforts, particularly Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s (D-MD) personal trip to El Salvador to advocate for Abrego Garcia’s return.

“He wasn’t abducted. He’s an MS-13 gang member, classified as a terrorist that was removed from this country, so we got rid of a dangerous person,” Homan told “Fox & Friends.” “An El Salvadoran national was returned to the country of El Salvador, so he’s home.”

Evidence supports the administration’s classification of Abrego Garcia as a gang member. According to court records, when he was arrested, he was found with rolls of cash and drugs, was detained alongside two other MS-13 members, and was wearing what amounted to an MS-13 uniform. Two separate judges determined he was a member of the notorious gang.

Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has strongly criticized these Democratic efforts, noting they are actively interfering with President Trump’s national security priorities. “This isn’t their purview,” Rubio stated. “The administration is executing legitimate deportations of dangerous individuals, and Democrats are undermining our national security by trying to reverse these decisions.”

El Salvador’s President Bukele has firmly stated he has no intention of returning Abrego Garcia to the United States, saying it would be “preposterous” to do so. “How can I smuggle a terrorist into the U.S.? I don’t have the power to return him to the United States,” Bukele said.

Priorities Revealed: MS-13 Over American Victims

What makes this situation particularly striking is that Sen. Van Hollen represents Maryland, the very state where Rachel Morin was brutally murdered, allegedly by an illegal immigrant who crossed the border during the Biden administration. Yet the senator appears more concerned about the welfare of an alleged MS-13 gang member than justice for victims of violent crime in his own state.

“The murder of Rachel Morin… listen to the testimony and listen to the mother on ‘Hannity’ last night. If you’re not human… your heart wasn’t broken,” Homan pointed out. “It [happened] in his state, but rather than taking care of the constituents in his state, the victims of illegal crime in his state, he’s going to run to El Salvador to protect MS-13 terrorists.”

This isn’t just about one case or one deportee. It’s about what these actions reveal about certain lawmakers’ priorities. While American families grieve loved ones lost to preventable crimes, congressional resources are being directed toward securing the comfort of foreign nationals who entered our country illegally and allegedly participated in violent gang activity.

I find it deeply troubling – and frankly, outrageous – that the same politicians who constantly lecture us about “compassion” seem to reserve none of it for American victims. Have you noticed how quickly they’ll sprint to the aid of deported criminals while dragging their feet to address the suffering of their own constituents? It’s a pattern that’s impossible to ignore.

When our elected officials put more energy into “welfare checks” for deported gang members than preventing crime in American neighborhoods, they reveal where their true allegiances lie. The first duty of government is to protect its citizens – not to fret over the comfort of those who threatened them. And yet here we are, watching Democratic lawmakers use taxpayer resources to advocate for people who shouldn’t have been in our country in the first place.

Key Takeaways

• Democrats are requesting official congressional trips to check on deported MS-13 gang members while ignoring victims of illegal immigrant crime.
• Evidence confirms that Kilmar Abrego Garcia was arrested with cash, drugs, and MS-13 paraphernalia, contradicting Democrats’ “wrongful abduction” claims.
• Senator Rubio has condemned these actions as direct interference with President Trump’s legitimate national security priorities.
• The Democrats’ rush to aid deported criminals reveals their misplaced priorities at the expense of American citizens’ safety and security.

Sources: Breitbart, Fox News, Washington Examiner