Democrat lawmakers asked for taxpayer funds to travel to El Salvador and visit an alleged MS-13 gang member. Republican leadership rejected the request, calling it an absurd misuse of government resources.
Key Facts: Congressmen Wanting to Visit MS-13 Gang Members
- Democrat Reps. Robert Garcia and Maxwell Frost requested a CODEL trip to visit the CECOT prison in El Salvador.
- They aimed to meet Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant deported from Maryland and suspected MS-13 member.
- House Oversight Chairman James Comer denied their request and refused to authorize taxpayer funding.
- Sen. Chris Van Hollen visited the same inmate and was photographed appearing to drink with him.
- Top GOP leaders blasted the trip as a wasteful attempt to defend a foreign criminal.
The Rest of the Story: Democrats Blocked From Foreign Gang Member Visit
Democrats in Congress attempted to organize a trip to El Salvador to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported illegal immigrant alleged to be tied to the MS-13 gang.
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, a Republican, rejected the request, refusing to allow taxpayer dollars to fund the excursion.
Abrego Garcia, who had lived in Maryland, was deported despite a court order from 2019 that supposedly barred the move.
His lawyers claim he is not part of MS-13, but federal officials provided documents suggesting otherwise.
He has also faced accusations of domestic violence and human trafficking, though no charges were filed at the time.
Comer called out Democrats for opposing oversight on border issues while now seeking official travel funds to meet with someone flagged as a dangerous foreign national.
If Democrats wish to travel to El Salvador and meet with a foreign illegal MS-13 gang member, they can spend their own money to do so.
I will not approve a single dime of Oversight Committee taxpayer funds for use on the excursion Democrats have requested. pic.twitter.com/ldokDJBTve
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) April 18, 2025
Commentary: Why Taxpayer-Funded Visits to Gang Members Are a Bad Idea
Republican leadership made the right call in denying this trip.
Americans should not be forced to pay for members of Congress to meet with criminal illegal immigrants, especially those suspected of being part of violent transnational gangs.
If Democrat lawmakers feel so passionately about meeting with an MS-13 suspect, they are free to do so — on their own dime.
The American taxpayer shouldn’t be funding political stunts or acts of sympathy toward those accused of serious crimes, including domestic violence and human trafficking.
This case is also a reminder of how some in Congress continue to downplay the threat posed by illegal immigration and violent gangs.
Rather than working to fix the border, they spend energy defending those who broke into the country and allegedly harmed Americans.
Even worse, if members of Congress travel abroad to negotiate or meet with foreign individuals in ways that could influence U.S. policy, they could risk violating the Logan Act — a law that prohibits unauthorized negotiations by private citizens with foreign governments.
These visits should not be treated casually.
Investigations into these trips and their purpose may be warranted.
Congress should uphold the rule of law, not undermine it by cozying up to those suspected of criminal activity.
The American people deserve better — especially when it comes to how their hard-earned money is spent.
The Bottom Line: Democrats’ Trip Request Exposes Misguided Priorities
Democrats’ effort to visit an MS-13 suspect with taxpayer funds was rightly rejected.
Republican leaders are putting American citizens first by refusing to bankroll trips to meet violent foreign criminals.
If lawmakers want to play ambassador for gang suspects, they can pay their own way and face potential legal scrutiny later.
Read Next
– President Trump Signs EO to Lower Cost of Wide Range of Prescription Medications
– Supreme Court Makes Decision on Birthright Citizenship Case
– College Student Who Set Fire To Two Cybertrucks Just Learned He Made a BIG Mistake
– Hollywood Exodus Accelerates as Los Angeles Set to Become ‘The New Detroit’
– Associated Press Gets Smacked Down By a Federal Judge in Dispute With The Trump Administration