


Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) says more congressional trips to El Salvador are in the works after he and other Democratic lawmakers traveled to the country to protest the mistaken deportation of Kilmer Abrego Garcia.
Frost was joined by three other House Democrats on his trip — Reps. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Robert Garcia (D-CA), and Maxine Dexter (D-OR) — following Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s (D-MD) meeting with Abrego Garcia last week in El Salvador. Frost immediately showed interest in joining Van Hollen on X, but they ultimately decided two trips would be more effective.
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“We both kind of deduced that it might be helpful for people to come in waves, to make sure that we keep the story alive and that we continue to add pressure on the Trump administration,” Frost said on a press call Tuesday.
The visit by Frost came after a federal court ordered Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who lived in Maryland, to be returned to the United States after he was deported to a megaprison in El Salvador through what officials called an administrative error. Abrego Garcia, who entered the U.S. illegally but had limited protected status, has yet to be returned amid resistance from the White House and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.
Frost said more trips to El Salvador are being planned as other Democratic lawmakers accuse the Trump administration of violating Abrego Garcia’s due process rights. The White House alleges Abrego Garcia is a member of MS-13, a claim his lawyers have disputed.
“I can definitely say there are a few trips that were being planned as of a couple days ago,” Frost said on the press call. “People looking at doing official things, unofficial as well. So there’s definitely still a lot of appetite for people going.”
Garcia and Frost had sent a letter to seek GOP approval from House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) for the trip to be an official delegation, a designation that would grant them security and oversight power, but were denied.
Frost said they were denied a tour of the facilities and a meeting with Abrego Garcia. The members requested updates on Abrego Garcia, including proof of life and his location.
“We received the first of those updates. I believe it was yesterday, and we know he’s at a facility in Santa Ana, or so the government says so far,” Frost said.
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Republicans have slammed Democrats for the unofficial trips as the White House continues to build its case against Abrego Garcia. The Salvadoran native has served as a symbol for the Trump administration’s aggressive agenda, especially when it comes to deportations.
“If out of touch House Democrats are so desperate to cozy up to violent gang members, the least they can do is let Americans watch the show. We’ll pay for the plane tickets; they just can’t forget to smile for the camera while they sell out their constituents,” NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella said.