During a CNN panel, Democratic strategist Mo Elleithee warned his party against defending Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man deported by the Trump administration, described as an MS-13 member and abuser.
Elleithee urged Democrats not to make Abrego Garcia a “martyr,” advising them instead to focus on broader concerns like civil liberties under Trump.
He criticized Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s push for Abrego Garcia’s release, saying it wouldn’t resonate nationally. Elleithee stressed that the focus should be on how the erosion of one person’s rights could impact everyone’s rights in the U.S.
Trump officials, including Stephen Miller, defended the deportation, citing Abrego Garcia’s alleged gang ties and violent record. Miller accused Van Hollen of ignoring American victims like Rachel Morin and Kayla Hamilton, contrasting the senator’s support for Abrego Garcia with his silence toward grieving families.
Elleithee emphasized the need to center the conversation on Americans’ rights, not on a controversial figure.
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