Democratic strategist Mo Elleithee warned his party on Friday not to turn Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the El Salvador national deported to his home country in what the Trump administration admitted was an “administrative error” into “a martyr.”
Newsweek contacted the Democratic National Committee (DNC) for comment on Saturday via online inquiry form outside of regular office hours.
Why It Matters
Abrego Garcia’s deportation by the Trump administration and subsequent incarceration in an El Salvadorian prison following accusations he’s an MS-13 gang member has triggered an uproar between Republicans and Democrats this week as the White House was recently ordered by the U.S. Supreme Court to facilitate his return.
On Thursday, Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, met Abrego Garcia during a visit to El Salvador to press for his release and return to the United States.
Elleithee’s comments show the tension within Democratic ranks between expressing concern over Abrego Garcia’s treatment while fearing being damaged by association with him.
What To Know
Abrego Garcia, who came to the U.S. illegally, was arrested in 2019 and accused of being a member of the MS-13 gang, which the Trump administration has designated a foreign terrorist organization. Abrego Garcia denied being a member of the gang, but two judges, in separate rulings, concluded that he was, based on confidential information provided to the court. He was shielded from deportation to El Salvador because he said he would be targeted by MS-13’s gangland rivals.
Abrego Garcia, who lived in Maryland with his wife and children, was deported to El Salvador after being arrested last month in what the Trump administration lawyers said was an “administrative error.” His family denies any ties to gangs and Abrego Garcia has no criminal record in the U.S., although his wife accused him of domestic violence and obtained a restraining order against him. They have since been reconciled.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Van Hollen said Abrego Garcia was initially held in a cell with 25 others at the CECOT mega prison where he was “traumatized,” but had since been moved to another facility in Santa Ana, El Salvador, which had better conditions. The senator added his focus is on “protecting the constitutional rights of everybody who resides in the United States.”
Sen. Van Hollen’s Office/GETTY
Elleithee, who has worked on behalf of a number of Democratic candidates, made an interview appearance on CNN’s The Arena with Kasie Hunt on Friday where he spoke about the ongoing situation.
“I think everyone in the White House are giving each other a high fives and everyone who supports the guy in El Salvador are giving each other high fives. Both sides have gone to their corners and are saying this is the fight we want to have whereas I don’t necessarily know it’s the conversation that would actually resonate with the rest of the country,” Elleithee said.
Referring to Van Hollen’s press conference on Abrego Garcia, he added: “It’s less about him as it is about all of us and if he were to have focused on that, he did a little bit, he did a little bit about a third of the way through where he said taking away his constitutional rights takes away all of our constitutional rights, that is the place to take this. We don’t know all of the details about this guy, so let’s not make him a martyr. Let’s make this about the fact that Donald Trump and his administration are chipping away at our rights on a daily basis.”
Meanwhile, the White House has shared an image which it claims shows Abrego Garcia’s left hand with the symbols for “M,” “S,” “1” and “3” across his knuckles. However, their authenticity has been questioned on social media.
In the image, the left hand has knuckle tattoos of a marijuana leaf, a smiley face, a cross, and a skull, which the Trump administration says are symbols for “M”, “S”, “1”, and “3,” respectively. Newsweek was unable to verify these claims.
“This is the hand of the man that the Democrats feel should be brought back to the United States, because he is such ‘a fine and innocent person,'” the president wrote on Truth Social on Friday. “They said he is not a member of MS-13, even though he’s got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles, and two Highly Respected Courts found that he was a member of MS-13, beat up his wife, etc. I was elected to take bad people out of the United States, among other things. I must be allowed to do my job. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Critics of the president said the symbols did not necessarily align with MS-13 insignia and pointed out that members of the gang frequently use the actual letters rather than metaphorical symbols.
What People Are Saying
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday: “Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the ‘death camps’ & ‘torture,’ now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador. Now that he’s been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvador’s custody.”
Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, wrote on X on Thursday: “My main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight, I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return.”
In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump wrote on Friday: “Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland looked like a fool yesterday standing in El Salvador begging for attention from the Fake News Media, or anyone. GRANDSTANDER!!!”
What Happens Next?
The Trump administration is insisting Abrego Garcia will not be allowed to return to the U.S. under any circumstances. It remains to be seen how the Supreme Court will react to the administration rejecting its ruling that they must “facilitate” his return.
