In a recent development, James Comer, the Chairman of the House Oversight Committee and Republican representative from Kentucky, has expressed his disapproval over Democrats' request for the Committee to sanction official travel to El Salvador.
The purpose of the proposed visit is to meet Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 gang member and deported illegal alien. Comer's criticism is rooted in the Democrats' desire to fund this trip from the Committee's budget.
According to Breitbart, Comer addressed a letter to Democratic Representatives Robert Garcia of California and Maxwell Alejandro Frost of Florida. In this correspondence, he conveyed his refusal to approve the use of taxpayer funds for the proposed trip. Comer's letter was a response to the Democrats' request for Committee-funded travel to meet Abrego Garcia, who was deported to his home country.
Comer's letter read, "It is absurd that you both displayed active hostility for over two years toward the Committees oversight of the Biden Border Crisis and the consequences of millions of illegal aliens entering the country, yet now, you are seeking travel at Committee expense to meet with foreign gang members." He further added, "If you also wish to meet with him, you can spend your own money. But I will not approve a single dime of taxpayer funds for use on the excursion you have requested."
This refusal comes in the wake of Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, leading a cause to have Abrego Garcia returned to the United States. Van Hollen recently traveled to El Salvador and was photographed meeting with Abrego Garcia. The latter has been depicted by Democrats and the news media as a "Maryland father with protected status."
Van Hollen, in his post, stated, "I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return."
However, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has countered this narrative by stating that the Trump administration possesses "credible intelligence proving" that Abrego Garcia was involved in human trafficking and was a member and leader of the notorious MS-13 gang.
Leavitt stated, "The administration maintains the position that this individual who was deported to El Salvador, and will not be returning to our country was a member of the brutal and vicious MS-13 gang. That is fact number one. Fact number two, we also have credible intelligence proving that this individual was involved in human trafficking. And, fact number three, this individual was a member, actually a leader, of the brutal MS-13 gang which this President has designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization."
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a statement revealing that Abrego Garcia was arrested with rolls of cash and drugs, alongside two other members of the MS-13 gang. The press release added, "Two judges found that he was a member of MS-13."
Despite the Supreme Court ruling that the Trump administration must facilitate the release of Abrego Garcia, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has responded to Van Hollen's meeting with Abrego Garcia by stating that he "gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody."
Bukele wrote in a post, "Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody." This statement underscores the ongoing tension between the conservative and liberal perspectives on the issue of illegal immigration and the handling of deported individuals with alleged criminal affiliations.
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