A Criminal, Not a Victim
Kilmar Abrego Garcia is not a misunderstood immigrant or a wrongfully deported family man. He is a dangerous individual with a long trail of disturbing behavior, violent abuse, suspected gang involvement, and human trafficking activity. Yet, despite overwhelming evidence of his crimes, several prominent Democrats have chosen to rally around him, traveling to El Salvador and demanding his return to the United States.
This case has exposed deep flaws in how some politicians choose their causes. Instead of defending the victims of crime, certain lawmakers have chosen to defend the criminal — even one tied to MS-13, a gang known for horrific acts of violence.
Who Is Kilmar Abrego Garcia?
Abrego Garcia is a native of El Salvador who entered the United States illegally in 2011. He remained in the country until he was deported in March 2025, despite having a deportation order dating back to 2019.
During his time in the U.S., court documents and police reports show that he was tied to MS-13, a gang designated as a terrorist organization by the Trump administration. He was also linked to human trafficking and faced multiple protective orders from his wife, who accused him of abuse and threats of murder.
According to a 2022 report from Homeland Security Investigations, “official law enforcement investigations revealed that Abrego Garcia was a member of the notorious gang MS-13.” The report added that he was suspected of human trafficking, specifically transporting undocumented migrants across state lines for profit.
Domestic Abuse Allegations from His Own Wife
Perhaps most disturbing are the allegations from his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura. She filed for protective orders in 2020 and 2021, citing repeated instances of physical and emotional abuse. In a chilling court statement, she wrote, “He slapped me, kicked me, pushed me, and threatened me. He said that even if he kills me, no one could do anything to him.”
In another part of her protective order filing, she stated, “He grabbed me by the hair in the car, dragged me out, and left me in the street. He also broke my son’s tablet, broke doors, smashed a phone, broke the television, and damaged the walls.”
Audio recordings from court hearings revealed even more disturbing behavior. “He would just wake up and like, hit me,” Vasquez Sura told the court. “Before my daughter’s birthday party, he slapped me three times.”
She told the court she had “a lot of police reports” and physical evidence of the abuse. In one recording, she said, “I saw a neighbor walking his dog and I opened the door and said ‘help.’ He grabbed me from my hair and slapped me.”
Though she later tried to walk back some of these claims, citing family counseling and financial stress during the COVID pandemic, the original filings and recordings present a deeply troubling pattern of behavior. She even admitted that his family had previously pressured her not to go through with the protective order, saying, “They washed my brain.”
Suspected Gang Member and Human Smuggler
Abrego Garcia’s issues did not stop at domestic violence. He was also pulled over by Tennessee State Police in a black Suburban filled with eight undocumented individuals and no luggage — a strong indicator of migrant smuggling. According to law enforcement, the vehicle belonged to a man later convicted of human trafficking.
Bodycam footage from the incident shows the troopers’ suspicions. “Did y’all put another row of seats in here? I’ve never seen one with that many seats,” one officer asked. “He’s hauling these people for money,” another said.
When asked about his tattoos during a Senate hearing, DEA nominee Terry Cole confirmed that Abrego Garcia’s inked knuckles were consistent with MS-13 membership. “Those are his markings, that’s his brand,” Cole said. He added that MS-13 is a terrorist organization involved in “extortion, kidnapping, drugs, intimidation, and money laundering.”
President Trump also weighed in, holding up a photo of the tattoos and stating, “They said he is not a member of MS-13, even though he’s got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles.”
Democrats Turn Him Into a Martyr
Despite all this, Democrats have rushed to defend Abrego Garcia. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to meet with him and called for his release. He claimed the deportation violated his constitutional rights and said, “The deportation risks the constitutional rights of everyone who resides in the United States.”
Van Hollen was joined by Reps. Maxwell Frost, Maxine Dexter, Robert Garcia, and Yassamin Ansari, who also traveled to El Salvador to express support. At one point, Dexter even said she would remain in the country until Abrego Garcia was returned to the U.S.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller condemned these actions, saying, “It is a sad reflection on the state of our media and many of the outlets represented in this room that you obsessively try to shill for this MS-13 terrorist.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also criticized the Democrats, stating, “I’ve never seen those Democrat politicians meet with Angel Moms who’ve lost kids because of illegal alien crime.”
A Legal Fight That Should Never Have Happened
While a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return and the Supreme Court later upheld that decision, officials have explained that the U.S. cannot force another country to release a prisoner. Solicitor General John Sauer wrote, “The United States does not control the sovereign nation of El Salvador, nor can it compel El Salvador to follow a federal judge’s bidding.”
Still, Democratic leaders continue to push. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, “Mr. Abrego Garcia must be returned immediately before he is killed in one of the most dangerous prisons in the world.” His office insists that “House Democrats will never stop fighting for the release of Mr. Abrego Garcia.”
Others within the party, however, have voiced concerns. Congressman Henry Cuellar said, “This is not the right issue to talk about due process. This is not the right case. This is not the right person.”
A Dangerous Distraction from Real Victims
The situation raises serious questions about the priorities of those in power. While American families deal with the consequences of illegal immigration, Democratic lawmakers are flying overseas to support someone accused of gang membership, trafficking, and spousal abuse.
As Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, put it, “They don’t care about our citizens and protecting our communities. I’m glad that the onion’s been peeled back and that their true motivations have been revealed.”
The case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia should be a cautionary tale. Instead, it has become a political rallying cry — not for justice, but for ideological loyalty. And in the process, it has exposed just how far some are willing to go to defend the indefensible.
