GOP says absolutely not.
Washington, D.C. – In a bold move that highlights the growing divide over immigration policy, House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) has flatly denied a request from two Democrat lawmakers to use taxpayer dollars for a controversial overseas trip to meet with an alleged MS-13 gang member.
Reps. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) and Robert Garcia (D-CA) asked Comer to approve funding for travel to El Salvador’s CECOT megaprison, where Kilmar Abrego Garcia — a suspected member of the notorious MS-13 gang — is currently held. The prison has become a centerpiece of El Salvador’s war on crime and a symbol of President Trump’s zero-tolerance deportation strategy.
But Comer said absolutely not — and made sure the American people knew exactly why.
🔥 Comer: “You Won’t Use Taxpayer Money to Coddle Gang Members”
In a sharply worded response obtained by multiple outlets, Comer slammed the Democrats for attempting to fund a trip with public money to meet with a known gang suspect — a man deported under President Trump’s legal authority to crack down on violent foreign criminals.
“It is absurd that after opposing efforts to secure our southern border, you now want the American taxpayer to foot the bill for a meeting with a foreign gang member,” Comer wrote.
He continued:
“You may be interested to know that a Democrat senator was just photographed enjoying margaritas with this same gang member. If you want to join him, do it on your own dime.”
🍹 Senator Caught in “Margarita Moment” with Accused Gang Member
Photos emerged this week of Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) allegedly enjoying drinks with Abrego Garcia after being denied access to the prison. Critics blasted the images as tone-deaf and insulting to American taxpayers.
House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) accused Van Hollen of “wasting taxpayer dollars” and associating with a man accused of domestic abuse and gang activity.
Van Hollen claimed the drinks were brought by the Salvadoran government and that “nobody drank them.” But many Americans are asking — why are our elected officials socializing with deported criminals instead of fighting for border security?
⚖️ Who Is Kilmar Abrego Garcia?
- Entered the U.S. illegally in 2011
- Arrested in Maryland while loitering with other MS-13 members
- Identified by law enforcement as a ranked gang member, known by the nickname “Chele”
- Once accused by his wife — a U.S. citizen — of domestic abuse
- Suspected of involvement in human trafficking
- Deported under President Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798
Despite all this, some progressive lawmakers want him brought back to the United States — on the basis of what they call an “administrative error” by ICE.
🇺🇸 Trump’s Policies Continue to Protect the Homeland
Thanks to a $6 million agreement between President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, over 260 criminal aliens have been deported to the CECOT facility. President Trump’s decision to invoke the Alien Enemies Act is being hailed as a strong move to remove violent foreign nationals from U.S. soil.
Yet Democrats like Van Hollen, Frost, and Garcia continue to oppose Trump’s border security efforts, even going so far as to demand foreign meetings with gang members on the taxpayers’ dime.
💬 The Bottom Line
James Comer’s refusal to approve this wasteful trip sends a clear message:
Taxpayer money should protect American citizens, not bankroll sympathy missions for criminals.
With the southern border under constant threat, the stakes couldn’t be higher. And as President Trump continues to take decisive action to safeguard American families, conservatives are standing strong against open-border extremists in Washington.