Democrats prioritizing illegal immigrants over citizens is ‘mind-boggling,’ White House says

close

Video

Karoline Leavitt: Media and Democrats' outrage over deportation of MS-13 member is 'despicable'

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt unpacks deportation efforts under the Trump administration during a press briefing.

The White House accused congressional Democrats of prioritizing "illegal immigrant gang members" rather than their own constituents. 

"It's mind-boggling the priorities of the modern-day Democrat party," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday. 

"I think it's atrocious that you have Democrats in Congress on Capitol Hill who swear an oath to protect their constituents and to serve them in Washington, D.C., spending more time defending illegal immigrant gang members than their own constituents and law-abiding American citizens," Leavitt said. 

STATE DEPT UPGRADES TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR EL SALVADOR, CONSIDERED SAFER THAN FRANCE, OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Sen. Chris Van Hollen said he would travel to El Salvador to check on Abrego Garcia, who was deported to El Salvador in an administrative error. (Jose Luis Magana/The Associated Press )

The comments come as Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., floated possibly traveling to El Salvador to check on a Maryland resident the Trump administration's Justice Department admitted it deported to El Salvador in an "administrative error," should the resident not return to the U.S. by "midweek."  

Both Trump administration officials and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele agreed Monday at the White House that they didn't have the authority to return Maryland resident Abrego Garcia, who the Trump administration claims has ties to the MS-13 gang. 

Additionally, the Supreme Court upheld Thursday a lower court's order that "requires the government to 'facilitate' Abrego Garcia's release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador."

While Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters Monday that El Salvador would call the final shots on whether it would return the Maryland resident, Bukele said it was "preposterous" for El Salvador to do so. 

"How can I smuggle a terrorist into the U.S.?" Bukele said at the White House Monday. "I don't have the power to return him to the United States." 

TRUMP, BUKELE FIND COMMON CAUSE ON TRANS SPORTS BAN AND BORDER CRACKDOWN

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Nayib Bukele, El Salvador's president, during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, April 14, 2025. (Al Drago for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Van Hollen announced Monday that if Garcia did not return to the U.S. by "midweek," he personally would travel to El Salvador to check up on Garcia’s well-being and release. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia never should have been abducted and illegally deported, and the courts have made clear: the Administration must bring him home, now," Van Hollen said in a Monday statement. "However, since the Trump Administration appears to be ignoring these court mandates, we need to take additional action."