Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) is urging the Trump administration to stop publicizing the alleged criminal record of deported Salvadoran national Kilmar Abrego Garcia, warning that the government is “trying to litigate on social media” instead of in court. But for many Americans, Van Hollen’s objections aren’t just hollow—they’re politically tone-deaf in a country that has grown weary of elite excuses for criminal illegal immigrants.
Appearing on ABC’s This Week and later on CNN, Van Hollen repeated his call for discretion, arguing that only courts—not the public—should weigh the seriousness of Abrego Garcia’s alleged actions. His line:
“Don’t put everything out on social media. They should put up or shut up in court.”
But let’s be blunt: this isn’t just about courtroom procedure. This is about trust—specifically, the public’s dwindling trust in a political class that’s long downplayed the real consequences of illegal migration.
Trump officials have made it clear they’re not just deporting for show. They’re highlighting specific cases, like Abrego Garcia’s, to demonstrate why their enforcement policy matters. According to DHS sources, Abrego Garcia:
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Was ordered deported in 2019,
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Is suspected of having MS-13 gang ties,
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Allegedly abused his wife,
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And may have facilitated illegal smuggling operations in Maryland.
That’s not just paperwork. That’s a threat to public safety—especially to working-class neighborhoods that Sen. Van Hollen claims to represent.
But when Van Hollen was asked point blank on CNN whether he had even asked Abrego Garcia if he was a member of MS-13, his answer was stunning in its indifference:
“I’m not going to get into the details… I didn’t ask him that.”
If you’re defending a man accused of gang ties and abuse, and you haven’t even asked the most basic question—that’s not legal prudence. That’s political avoidance.
Van Hollen is trying to reframe the public narrative by pushing everything into a quiet courtroom, far from the scrutiny of everyday Americans. Why? Because the more people hear about who is being deported, the more support grows for Trump’s tough immigration policies.
“I would say that anyone that’s not prepared to defend the constitutional rights of one man when they threaten the constitutional rights of all doesn’t deserve to lead,” Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen says about advocating for Kilmar Abrego Garcia. https://t.co/zq9Ntlql0i pic.twitter.com/KoPCr7j2Kk
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) April 20, 2025
Even left-leaning polling has shown rising national frustration with illegal migration, particularly when it involves criminal activity and public benefits usage. That support cuts across party lines—and Democrats like Van Hollen know it.
That’s why he’s desperate to shut down the conversation, not just the deportations.
While Van Hollen and his allies are trying to slow down deportations, even when court orders have been on the books for years, Trump’s administration is moving forward. Officials say they are complying with the law, including court processes like habeas rights, while also informing the public about why these individuals are being removed.
Tom Homan on ABC does not deny that the administration’s position is they have a right to grab people off the streets and deport them without a hearing pic.twitter.com/bwHi9txBI8
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 20, 2025
That’s not political theater—it’s accountability.
And Van Hollen’s selective concern for “process” didn’t show up when the Biden administration was flooding cities with unvetted migrants, many of whom overwhelmed shelters, strained city budgets, and in some tragic cases, committed violent crimes.
