Miami Herald, Marco Rubio's Home State Outlet, Accuses Him of Abandoning Migrants For Political Gains: 'What a Betrayal'

The article highlighted a quote from Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who has clashed with Rubio, particularly over the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador. "We didn't always agree, but I believe we shared some common values: a belief in defending democracy and human rights abroad and honoring the Constitution at home. That's why I voted to confirm you. I believed you would stand up for those principles. You haven't. You've done the opposite," Van Hollen said in a Senate hearing this week.

In January, the Senate unanimously confirmed Rubio, who served on the Foreign Relations Committee before joining Trump's cabinet. Many Democrats said he had promised to be a responsible steward of the State Department, and they privately hoped he would help keep some of Trump's impulses in check.

The op-ed points out that Rubio, as a Senator, defended sending foreign aid to foment democracy around the world while also strongly opposing authoritarian regimes in his family's home country of Cuba, as well as Venezuela.

Now, as Secretary of State and national security adviser, the outlet's board said he "must own up" to his role in ending Temporary Protected Status for over 350,000 Venezuelans, and hence initiating their imminent deportation to a country ravaged by political, economic and humanitarian crises.

"What a change. What a betrayal," reads a passage of the article.

The Floridian— who has remained in President Trump's good graces, accumulating numerous highly coveted roles including Secretary of State, national security adviser, archivist of the United States and administrator for the United States Agency for International Development— made his stance on ending TPS for Venezuelans clear in a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem earlier this year.

"Designating Venezuela under TPS does not champion core American interests or put America and American citizens first. Therefore, it is contrary to the foreign policy and the national interest of the United States."

He added that TPS "facilitates and encourages mass migration."

The Herald insisted that while it may be true that the program encourages "mass migration," it also provides economic benefits to local communities, particularly those in Rubio's own home state.

"We understand the concern that TPS may encourage 'mass migration,' though most of its recipients are also contributing to South Florida and its economy. But where was this concern when Rubio repeatedly encouraged the U.S. to grant TPS to Venezuelans over the years?" the editorial board wrote.

Despite criticism, Rubio showed no remorse for his stance in the administration during this week's Senate hearing, mocking Van Hollen's recent visit to El Salvador.

"In the case of El Salvador, absolutely, absolutely, we deported gang members, gang members— including the one you had a margarita with," Rubio said. Van Hollen has said Salvadoran officials placed glasses with unknown beverages on the table where he sat with Abrego Garcia, but that he did not take a drink. Van Hollen also told Rubio he regretted voting to confirm him, to which Rubio replied that it did nothing but confirm that he was doing a good job.