Democrats navigate immigration ‘trap’ with Abrego Garcia deportation

The deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia has become a political flashpoint that Democrats are struggling to navigate, with the party split over how loudly to protest his detention in a Salvadoran megaprison.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) became the first Democratic senator to travel to El Salvador this week to visit Abrego Garcia, who lived in Maryland. Other Democrats are planning trips as they accuse the administration of violating Abrego Garcia’s due process rights.

The uproar marks an early test of the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration as a federal judge threatens contempt proceedings over the White House’s refusal to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return.

But the Democrats have seemingly painted themselves into a corner, as Republicans accuse them of caring more about an illegal immigrant than the safety of Americans. Over the last several days, the White House has joined congressional Republicans in highlighting Abrego Garcia’s alleged association with MS-13 and domestic abuse allegations by his wife in court.

Abrego Garcia’s lawyers dispute the gang allegations, and his wife has defended him as a “loving partner and father.”