The Left doesn’t have principles. It’s all smoke and mirrors.
And now Republicans caught Congressional Democrats in a scheme that exposes them for who they truly are.
NRCC Offers to Fund Democrats’ Trip to Visit Deported MS-13 Suspect
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) announced on April 21, that it would cover travel expenses for House Democrats to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, where he was deported in March, but with a provocative condition: the visit must be live-streamed. The NRCC’s statement, dripping with sarcasm, labeled Garcia “a confirmed illegal immigrant, MS-13 gang member, and alleged domestic abuser,” accusing Democrats of championing a dangerous criminal.
“The NRCC is offering to pick up the tab for any House Democrat eager to hang out with their new poster child in El Salvador,” the statement read. “We just have one condition: Livestream the whole thing. Snap plenty of selfies with your MS-13 buddies — the same violent criminals you’re trying to reimport into American neighborhoods to r*pe, k*ll, and terrorize law-abiding citizens.”
NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella added, “If out of touch House Democrats are so desperate to cozy up to violent gang members, the least they can do is let Americans watch the show. We’ll pay for the plane tickets, they just can’t forget to smile for the camera while they sell out their constituents.”
Democrats’ El Salvador Visit Sparks GOP Backlash
The NRCC’s offer coincided with a trip by four House Democrats—Reps. Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), and Maxine Dexter (D-OR)—to El Salvador to press the Trump administration to comply with a Supreme Court order to “facilitate” Garcia’s return to the U.S.
The Democrats, who funded the trip privately after House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) denied an official Congressional Member Delegation (CODEL), aimed to highlight what they call an illegal deportation.
Rep. Frost posted on X, “We have arrived in El Salvador. [President Donald] Trump is illegally arresting, jailing, & deporting people with no due process. We must hold the Administration accountable for these illegal acts and demand Kilmar’s release. Today it’s him, tomorrow it could be anyone else.”
The Trump administration admitted Garcia’s deportation was an “administrative error” but insists he is an MS-13 member, citing documents, including a 2021 restraining order alleging domestic abuse against his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, who now defends him.
Political Firestorm Over Garcia’s Alleged Gang Ties
Garcia’s case has become a lightning rod in the immigration debate, with Republicans seizing on his alleged MS-13 affiliation to paint Democrats as soft on crime. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) criticized the Democrats’ trip, stating on X, “Today, House Democrats travel to El Salvador as part of their obsession to bring a violent illegal alien and member of MS-13 BACK INTO the United States. Could the contrast be more clear? House Republicans remain committed to doing everything we can to protect American families and keep dangerous gang members OUT of our country.”
The NRCC’s statement linked to an X post detailing Garcia’s alleged gang ties, though his attorneys deny the claims, arguing he has no criminal convictions and was protected by a 2019 court order barring his deportation due to persecution risks in El Salvador. The Supreme Court’s ruling, while ordering the U.S. to facilitate Garcia’s return, noted ambiguity in requiring the government to “effectuate” it, citing deference to executive authority in foreign affairs.
Democrats Frame Case as Due Process Violation
The Democrats’ visit followed a trip by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), who met Garcia on April 17, and called his deportation an “illegal abduction.” Van Hollen, who admitted on Fox News Sunday that his trip was taxpayer-funded, described Garcia as a Maryland constituent and emphasized due process, stating, “If you deny the constitutional rights of one man, you threaten the constitutional rights and due process for everyone else.”
The Democrats’ efforts focus on Garcia’s lack of criminal charges and his protected status, arguing that his detention in El Salvador’s notorious prisons violates U.S. court orders. They were denied a meeting with Garcia by Salvadoran officials, who cited the unofficial nature of their trip, prompting Rep. Garcia to declare at a San Salvador press conference, “He needs to come home. This is about due process.”
GOP’s Tactic Highlights Midterm Strategy
The NRCC’s provocative offer to fund Democrats’ travel, coupled with its demand for livestreamed “selfies with MS-13 buddies,” reflects a Republican strategy to weaponize immigration ahead of the 2026 midterms.
By framing Garcia as a dangerous gang member—despite contested evidence—and mocking Democrats’ advocacy, the NRCC aims to portray the party as prioritizing criminals over American safety. The statement’s inflammatory rhetoric, accusing Democrats of enabling violence in “American neighborhoods,” aligns with GOP messaging that proved effective in 2024.
Meanwhile, Democrats argue that Garcia’s case tests the rule of law, with Rep. Ansari telling the Associated Press, “Even with all of the illegal actions we’ve seen over the last couple of months, I think this is the one that terrifies me the most when it comes to the future of our democracy.” As the legal battle continues, Garcia’s fate remains a contentious symbol of America’s immigration divide.
