Comer denies House Democrats’ request for delegation to El Salvador – Washington Examiner
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) has denied a request from two House Democrats, Reps. Robert Garcia (D-CA) and Maxwell Frost (D-FL),to travel to El Salvador to meet Kilmar Abrego Garcia,a Salvadoran national who was mistakenly deported by the Trump governance. Comer’s rejection, which he detailed in a letter, occurred after a similar request to visit Abrego garcia was denied by Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-TN). Comer criticized the Democrats for their alleged past hostility towards the Committee’s oversight of the Biden administration’s immigration policies while now seeking taxpayer funding to visit a person linked to the MS-13 gang. Abrego garcia’s situation has attracted political attention, with ongoing debates about due process and immigration policies amidst accusations against him and his lawyers’ defence. Despite this,Comer stated he would not allow any taxpayer money to be spent on the Democrats’ excursion,adding that they could fund their own trip if they chose to go.
Comer denies House Democrats’ request for delegation to El Salvador
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) denied a request from two House Democrats to go on a congressional trip to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an imprisoned Salvadoran national mistakenly deported by the Trump administration.
In a letter shared with the Washington Examiner, Comer rejected a request by Reps. Robert Garcia (D-CA) and Maxwell Frost (D-FL) to travel to the country under the Oversight Committee’s budget. The decision followed Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s (D-MD) successful attempt to visit Abrego Garcia in El Salvador.
“It is absurd that you both displayed active hostility for over two years toward the Committee’s 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,” Comer said.
Comer’s rejection came a day after Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) denied a similar request from Democrats. Green said there is “no excuse” for Democrats to “waste taxpayer dollars” to visit Abrego Garcia, who was deported last month due to what the Trump administration has called an “administrative error.”
Both the U.S. and Salvadoran governments have refused to cooperate with a federal judge ordering the Trump administration to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return, leading Democrats to warn of due process violations. In turn, Republicans have painted Democrats as caring more about Abrego Garcia than instances of illegal immigrant crime.
Abrego Garcia was accused of being a member of the MS-13 gang, a claim his lawyers dispute, and at one time faced a protective order from his wife over alleged domestic abuse. The couple has since reconciled, with his wife defending him as a “loving partner and father.”
After Van Hollen’s requests to see Abrego Garcia or speak to him on the phone were initially denied, the senator was met with his former constituent on Thursday night.
The Salvadoran’s detention at a megaprison has become a political flashpoint in the Democratic Party as lawmakers are split over how loudly to protest his situation.
President Donald Trump on Friday called Van Hollen a “fool,” and Comer blasted the senator’s visit in his letter to Oversight Committee Democrats.
“You may be pleased to know that a Democrat Senator, Chris Van Hollen, was photographed just yesterday in El Salvador enjoying margaritas garnished with cherry slices with the foreign gang member your letter references,” Comer said.
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“If you also wish to meet with him, you can spend your own money,” the chairman added. “But I will not approve a single dime of taxpayer funds for use on the excursion you have requested.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to Frost and Garcia for comment.
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