The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) condemned several elected officials on Tuesday for defending Kilmar Ábrego García, whom the agency described as "an MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator."
"Kilmar Abrego Garcia is not and will never be a Maryland Man—he is a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador and public safety threat," a senior DHS official in a statement on the agency's website. The official continued:
"It is insane that sanctuary politicians chose to glorify and stand with an MS-13 gang member over the safety of American citizens. President Trump and Secretary Noem are not going to allow this illegal alien—who is an MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator—to terrorize American citizens any longer"
DHS singled out Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Representative Linda Sánchez of California, and Representative Glenn Ivey of Maryland, accusing them of defending Ábrego despite their positions representing jurisdictions with sanctuary policies. To further support its argument, the agency shared each official's support for Abrego on X.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem first announced Ábrego Garcia's arrest on Monday in another statement on Homeland Security's official site, calling him "a known MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, wife beater, and child predator" and adding that President Trump was not going to allow him to "terrorize American citizens any longer."
Hours after Abrego Garcia's detention, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis issued an order temporarily halting Ábrego's deportation, stating that the government was "absolutely forbidden" from removing him until an evidentiary hearing scheduled for Friday. His attorneys have filed a lawsuit arguing that the government's attempts to deport him to Uganda, after previously offering Costa Rica as an alternative, amounted to coercion.
Ábrego, who entered the U.S. as a teenager fleeing violence in El Salvador, was previously deported there in March in what DHS later called an "administrative error." He was returned to the U.S. under a Supreme Court order but now faces human smuggling charges, which his lawyers deny.
Below are the X posts referenced by Homeland Security in its latest statement:
ICE is holding Kilmar Ábrego García and refusing to answer questions from his lawyers — while the Trump Admin continues to spread lies about his case. Instead of spewing unproven allegations on social media, they need to put up or shut up IN COURT.
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) August 25, 2025
Mr. Ábrego García must be…
The Trump admin wrongly sent Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a horrific El Salvadoran prison.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) August 25, 2025
Now, just days after he was reunited with his family, they’re trying to deny him his rights and deport him to Uganda.
Kilmar—like everyone—deserves a fair hearing to defend himself.
Let’s be clear: deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda makes no sense—it’s not his home country. Nothing about this process has been fair. ICE is targeting him with cruelty. This is the weaponization of government, not justice. https://t.co/YNIzn0ydNW
— Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (@RepJasmine) August 25, 2025
Kilmar Abrego García and his family are being punished because @DHSgov won’t admit its mistake. Their cruelty is sickening.
— Rep. Linda Sánchez (@RepLindaSanchez) August 25, 2025
Our immigration system should protect families, not be weaponized to tear them apart to cover for the Trump administration’s failures. https://t.co/7QvuAduznq
The struggle for #DueProcess continues. Everyone deserves their day in court to clear their name and to prove their innocence. Mr. Abrego Garcia must not be sent to some third party country like Uganda.
— Rep. Glenn Ivey (@RepGlennIvey) August 25, 2025
The people united will continue to seek justice for Kilmar!… pic.twitter.com/tqjDlEfOpL
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