Several Democrats have strongly criticized the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant and Maryland resident, calling it a blatant violation of due process and accusing President Trump of deliberately defying court orders. Yet within the party, opinions diverge. While some continue to oppose Trump’s erratic actions, others argue that the case is being used as a political distraction to shift focus away from the economic damage caused by tariffs and persistently high prices.
Abrego Garcia, married to a U.S. citizen, was arrested on March 12 and deported just three days later—even though a federal court had annulled his removal order back in 2019. His deportation occurred alongside that of 22 other Salvadorans and 238 Venezuelans, all accused of gang affiliations without publicly presented evidence. Officials later admitted the deportation was a result of an “administrative error,” claiming it was too late to reverse the action once he had been handed over to Salvadoran authorities. They continued to allege—without proof—that he was associated with MS-13, a gang Washington classifies as a terrorist organization.
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected that reasoning and ordered the administration last week to “facilitate” his return, prompting a federal judge to demand daily updates on any progress.
Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, one of the most active Democrats involved—largely because Abrego Garcia lived in his home state and is part of a vocal local Hispanic community—traveled to El Salvador this week to advocate for his return and managed to meet with Abrego Garcia in person. Though he acted alone, other Democrats in Congress, including Representatives Maxwell Frost (FL), Yassamin Ansari (AZ), and Delia Ramirez (IL), have offered to join him or travel to El Salvador themselves to underline the importance they place on the case.
But not all Democrats see this as a priority. California Governor Gavin Newsom—widely seen as a likely presidential contender—downplayed the significance of the case during a press conference in Los Angeles, where he discussed his legal actions against Trump’s tariff policies. He labeled the Abrego Garcia story a “distraction” orchestrated by the White House to divert attention from economic mismanagement. “This is today’s distraction. The art of distraction,” Newsom said. “This is the debate the White House wants—to talk about violent immigrants and attack judges, rather than face a real discussion about tariffs and their economic consequences.”
A CNBC poll published Thursday showed that while a majority of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the southern border (53%) and the deportation of undocumented immigrants (52%), approval plummets when it comes to economic issues: 57% disapprove of his tariff decisions, and 60% disapprove of his handling of inflation and cost of living. Newsom’s view is echoed by many other Democrats who see Trump’s focus on deportations as a calculated distraction from the economic fallout of his policies.
Just this morning, Trump added fuel to the fire by mocking Van Hollen on Truth Social, saying he “looked like an idiot in El Salvador,” accusing him of “begging for attention,” and calling him a spotlight-chasing politician. Trumpism has not only transformed the Republican Party—it has redrawn the entire map of American politics. The central divide is no longer simply Democrat vs. Republican, but between those who believe in the system and those who don’t.
Over the past decade, the U.S. has undergone a profound political realignment. From 1948 to 2012, the top 5% of earners voted predominantly Republican. Now, that trend has flipped. The MAGA movement isn’t led by the rich—it’s fueled by blue-collar voters, the “Joe the Plumber” types, once loyal to Democrats. That’s why many Democrats now avoid leaning too hard into immigration debates, choosing instead to focus on economic issues—seen as the driving force behind Trump’s resurgence and the key to winning back voters lost in last fall’s elections.
“I think it’s a mistake for Democrats to focus our opposition on immigration and border issues,” one Democratic insider told NBC News, speaking anonymously. “That’s Trump’s turf, and it’s an issue where most voters think we’re weak. Focusing too much on it just reinforces that perception”.
