Outrage on Fox News Over Sen. Van Hollen's Solidarity Visit to El Salvador for Deported Immigrant

The Fox News program "Outnumbered" featured a robust critique of Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen's intention to travel to El Salvador to show support for Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia. Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant, was recently deported amid allegations connecting him to criminal and gang activities. During the discussion, host Kayleigh McEnany highlighted the inconsistency in media treatment, pointing out that Abrego Garcia is referred to as a "Maryland man" despite his illegal status, while there is minimal media attention on tragic cases involving U.S. citizens like Maryland mother Rachel Morin, who was murdered by an illegal immigrant.

Fox News contributor Kellyanne Conway chimed in, emphasizing the disconnect between the actions of Democrats and the concerns of American citizens. She lauded El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele for denying the facilitation of Abrego Garcia's return to the U.S. and criticized the media for neglecting to cover American victims harmed by illegal immigrants. Conway expressed frustration with the Democratic Party's focus on non-citizens at the expense of guarding American citizens' rights and well-being, highlighting specific victims whose stories have received inadequate attention.

In a recent development, the Supreme Court indicated that the government has a mandate to facilitate the legal handling of Abrego Garcia's status, which includes ensuring equal treatment as if he had not been deported incorrectly. In 2019, a court had provided him temporary protection from deportation, but the Trump administration later acknowledged that his deportation had resulted from an administrative mistake. The panel noted that the White House classified Abrego Garcia as a member of MS-13, a group recognized as a terrorist organization by the previous administration, further complicating the situation.

Harris Faulkner questioned the rationale behind pushing for the return of individuals like Abrego Garcia when the U.S. already struggles with its immigration challenges, implying a further strain on resources. Fellow contributor Guy Benson underlined that regardless of his affiliations, Abrego Garcia does not possess the legal right to return to the U.S., given his illegal status.

Lili Gil Valletta, CEO of Culture & Group, concluded the discussion by calling attention to the unsettling priorities surrounding immigration debates. Expressing her identity as an immigrant, she found it ironic that efforts are being expended on individual cases like Abrego Garcia’s while many skilled individuals are left in limbo within the U.S. immigration system. Valletta emphasized the need for more focus on bringing in talented legal immigrants rather than pursuing deported individuals tied to criminal activities, highlighting a substantial imbalance in current immigration policy discussions.