Progressive Democrats Support Release of MS-13 Member

A progressive Democrat on social media recently celebrated the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an MS-13 member. The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) shared a message on X, describing the release as “Great News.” They argued that Abrego Garcia “should not have been deported” and committed to fighting for those they believe are unjustly detained, as well as opposing what they term Trump’s war against their community.

Abrego Garcia was arrested by immigration agents in March and deported to El Salvador shortly after, along with over 200 others. Authorities went forward with the deportation despite an existing removal order from 2019 preventing his return. The Trump administration supported this decision, branding him as a public safety threat due to his gang affiliation.

In light of Abrego Garcia’s situation, Democratic lawmakers are advocating for his reinstatement in the U.S., despite concerns regarding suspected human smuggling activities. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen spearheaded efforts by visiting El Salvador with four House Democrats to demand Abrego Garcia’s release. Shortly thereafter, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker intensified actions by instructing state officials to consider boycotting El Salvador if cooperation was not achieved.

Meanwhile, some legislators, like Rep. Maxwell Frost from Florida, and others from California, Oregon, and Arizona, were reported to be staying at a luxurious hotel during their visits to El Salvador. However, not all Democrats support this initiative. According to reports, Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic minority leader, has halted travel to El Salvador due to the ongoing controversy.

Abrego Garcia returned to the U.S. in June and spent several months in custody in Tennessee. Federal authorities have charged him with smuggling individuals from Central and South America between 2016 and 2025, based on a traffic stop in Tennessee where police found nine undocumented immigrants in his vehicle.

Judges in Tennessee approved his release in July, but the Trump administration subsequently delayed it due to concerns about public safety and flight risk. Eventually, his legal team arranged for his transportation from Tennessee to Maryland.