Patty Morin spoke powerfully at the White House about the brutal murder of her daughter by an illegal immigrant, as Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to assist another deported immigrant. The moment put a harsh spotlight on political priorities.
Key Facts:
- Rachel Morin, 37, was raped and murdered in August 2023 by Victor Martinez-Hernandez, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador.
- Martinez-Hernandez was convicted on Monday; according to Rachel’s mother, he showed no remorse during the trial.
- Patty Morin appeared at the White House on Wednesday, delivering a graphic and emotional recounting of her daughter’s brutal death.
- Senator Chris Van Hollen was in El Salvador that same day advocating for the release of Abrego Garcia who Trump administration claims has MS-13 gang ties, although the deportation was an “administrative error.”
- Morin criticized Van Hollen directly, asking why he used taxpayer dollars to help a non-citizen while “barely acknowledging” her daughter’s murder: “Why does that person have more right than I do, or my daughter or my grandchildren?”
Rest of the Story: Patty Morin Shares Story of Daughter’s Murder by Illegal Immigrant at White House Press Conference
Patty Morin took the podium at the White House just days after her daughter’s killer, Victor Martinez-Hernandez, was convicted of her brutal rape and murder.
The 37-year-old mother of five was attacked in August 2023 on a family-favorite trail in Bel Air, Maryland.
Her killer, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, waited for her in isolation before violently assaulting and murdering her.
Morin gave a graphic and emotional recounting of the crime, describing her daughter’s fatal injuries and the brutality of the act.
She said Martinez-Hernandez showed no remorse during trial and called for a national reckoning on immigration and public safety.
She went on to criticize Senator Chris Van Hollen of her own state who traveled to El Salvador to push for the release of Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant deported by the Trump administration. Garcia’s deportation was later deemed a procedural mistake, but he remains in a Salvadoran prison.
“To have a senator from Maryland who didn’t even acknowledge, or barely acknowledge, my daughter and the brutal death that she endured, leaving her five children without a mother…so that he can use my taxpayer money to fly to El Salvador to bring back someone that’s not even an American citizen?” she said.
Van Hollen’s office did issue a statement on Morin’s case, praising law enforcement and calling the conviction “a measure of justice,” but did not directly respond to Morin’s criticisms.
ANGEL MOM PATTY MORIN OF MARYLAND just told the whole story.
She says the illegal alien used bloody rocks on the running trail to hammer Rachel's head. If you can handle it, watch the whole thing.
Her senator, Chris Van Hollen, is in El Salvador today, pushing for the release… pic.twitter.com/BtlXpDp4qo
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 16, 2025
Commentary: White House Humiliates Senator Von Hollen with Surprise Remarks from Patty Morin
The surprise appearance of Patty Morin at the White House was more than emotional—it was strategic.
Her story was allowed to unfold before national media just as Senator Chris Van Hollen was on foreign soil pushing to bring back another illegal immigrant.
While Morin didn’t name Garcia directly, her timing and tone made it clear: she saw a government prioritizing the wrong people.
Her rebuke was searing.
Morin asked how a senator could spend taxpayer dollars to fly to El Salvador on behalf of a non-citizen while never personally acknowledging her daughter’s horrific death.
“Why does that person have more right than I do, or my daughter or my grandchildren?” she asked.
The moment resonated because it wasn’t just about one tragedy—it was about a growing sense that American citizens are being left behind.
Van Hollen may argue that Garcia was wrongfully deported and deserves due process.
But the average American sees a stark contrast: a grieving mother in pain, and a senator pushing for leniency for someone accused of gang ties.
Even if Garcia’s case is legally complicated, the optics are politically disastrous.
Morin described her daughter’s skull crushed like an “eggshell,” her body left battered and bloody.
She said Martinez-Hernandez dragged her 150 feet off-trail and raped her repeatedly.
These aren’t just details—they are a mother’s cry for justice, accountability, and change.
Whether or not Morin ever read Van Hollen’s post-verdict statement doesn’t really matter.
She feels ignored, and in the court of public opinion, that’s all it takes.
Her story, told with clarity and raw emotion, directly challenges the priorities of lawmakers who appear more concerned with international rights than domestic safety.
The White House didn’t need to say a word.
By giving Morin a microphone, they made a political statement louder than any press release.
Final Summary: Patty Morin Shares Story of Daughter’s Murder While Senator Defends Deportee
As Senator Van Hollen advocated for a deported immigrant in El Salvador, Patty Morin stood at the White House telling the horrific story of her daughter’s murder by another illegal immigrant.
The contrast drew a line between justice for citizens and leniency for non-citizens with criminal allegations.
The public response is likely to grow louder as voters weigh how far their representatives are willing to go for people who entered the country illegally—even when Americans are left mourning the consequences.
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