A growing political firestorm erupted this week after U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland traveled to El Salvador to advocate for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a non-citizen with alleged ties to the violent MS-13 gang. Garcia is currently being held in a Salvadoran prison after being deported by the U.S. for illegal entry and a series of troubling incidents, including domestic violence and suspected human trafficking.
Appearing on Chicago’s Morning Answer with Amy Jacobson and Charles Thomas, Virginia Allen, senior news producer at The Daily Signal and host of its podcast, condemned efforts by Van Hollen and other Democrats—including Senator Cory Booker—to pressure El Salvador for Garcia’s release.
“This man has a documented history of violence,” Allen said. “His wife filed restraining orders. There’s evidence of physical abuse. He was seen in gang-affiliated clothing with known MS-13 members. The idea that members of Congress are flying to El Salvador to campaign for him is unbelievable.”
Despite mounting criticism, Van Hollen insisted his visit was about “due process,” claiming Garcia was being unfairly detained. But El Salvador’s government and President Nayib Bukele have shown no signs of cooperating, stating unequivocally that Garcia will not be released.
Garcia first entered the U.S. illegally in 2012, evading the legal immigration system entirely. He was later pulled over with seven individuals in his vehicle in a suspected human trafficking incident. Despite the red flags, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) declined to detain him at the time, a decision Allen cited as symptomatic of broader failures under the Biden and Obama administrations.
“ICE had their hands tied,” she explained. “They weren’t allowed to enforce basic immigration law. Now the Trump administration is simply saying: we’re going to enforce the laws already on the books—and that’s being treated as radical.”
While Democratic lawmakers characterize Garcia as a misunderstood immigrant and devoted father, critics point to his violent history and illegal entry to argue he is far from a sympathetic figure. A GoFundMe organized by Garcia’s family has raised over $28,000, further complicating public perception of his case.
“There’s money in playing the victim,” said Jacobson. “His wife once filed restraining orders against him—and now she’s defending him and benefiting financially? The whole thing stinks.”
Allen also noted the irony in Democrats’ fixation on Garcia, contrasting it with their relative silence on cases like Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother murdered by another illegal immigrant from El Salvador, also believed to be affiliated with MS-13. Her killer was convicted this week after overwhelming DNA evidence linked him to the crime.
“This is a slap in the face to victims and their families,” Allen said. “Democrats are making a martyr out of a gang member while families like the Morins are left behind.”
Allen argued that the Trump campaign’s firm stance on immigration enforcement—alongside bold messaging and visible deportations—is not just about policy but public deterrence.
“This is about setting an example,” she explained. “If you’re part of a gang and you come to America illegally, the message is clear: you will be deported, and you may never come back.”
Later in the show, Allen and the hosts turned their attention to the situation in Gaza, where 21-year-old Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander remains captive after being taken by Hamas during the October 7th attacks. A new video released this week shows Alexander pleading for his life and criticizing Israeli leadership—a statement most believe he was forced to make.
Alexander, who grew up in New Jersey, voluntarily joined the Israel Defense Forces. His parents remain hopeful for his return, but little progress has been made.
“He’s been underground for over 500 days,” Allen said. “Every day that passes without a deal puts him and the other hostages at greater risk.”
Allen criticized mainstream media for ignoring Alexander’s story and blasted 60 Minutes for airing an interview in which a former hostage was asked whether her captors had “starved her on purpose or simply had no food.”
“It’s insulting. These people were tortured and beaten,” Allen said. “Trying to spin it as anything less is disgraceful.”
As the 2024 election nears, both immigration enforcement and America’s foreign policy posture are shaping up to be central issues—and voters are paying close attention.
“This isn’t just about one man in El Salvador or one hostage in Gaza,” Allen said. “It’s about what kind of country we are and what kind of leadership we want.”
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