In a striking divergence from his party's stance, U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat, has openly criticized the Democratic support for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported man linked to violent criminal allegations.
According to Breitbart, Rep. Cuellar questions the wisdom of backing Garcia, arguing it could harm the party's credibility.
Henry Cuellar, representing Texas's 28th district since 2005, recently voiced his discontent on the Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox News Radio. Cuellar's district, rich in Latino heritage, stretches from the San Antonio suburbs to the Rio Grande.
The central figure in this controversy, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old originally from El Salvador, was deported back to his home country in March under accusations of affiliating with the notorious MS-13 gang. Garcia's deportation has sparked a significant divide among lawmakers and the public.
Despite his negative portrayal, Garcia has found some allies among progressive U.S. lawmakers, who have depicted him sympathetically as a "Maryland man" and challenged the grounds of his deportation.
Homeland Security identifies Garcia as involved in human trafficking and bearing gang-related tattoos, markers of his alleged gang affiliation. His legal troubles in the U.S. include a protective order issued against him by his wife due to domestic violence, which was later recanted.
Garcia has faced not one, but two deportation orders, the latest of which, in 2025, was contested by his supporters as an administrative error. In a turn of events echoing the divide on this issue, several Democratic lawmakers have visited Garcia in a Salvadoran prison, spotlighting his case in the broader immigration debate.
Cuellar, however, maintains a firm stance against bringing Garcia back to the U.S. Citing the ongoing judicial and administrative proceedings and the serious accusations against Garcia, Cuellar expressed his reservations about the case's suitability in discussions of due process and immigration justice.
Cuellar shared concerns from his constituents about the disparities between illegal immigration and the legal paths that their families followed. “People were saying, ‘Our parents came legally. They came in, became legal residents,” Cuellar recounted, highlighting a common sentiment in his district regarding immigration.
The congressman also acknowledged some agreements with former President Trump’s border security policies, emphasizing the necessity of robust border management to prevent illegal entries. Cuellar argued for increased Mexican involvement in border security, suggesting that doing so would significantly alleviate pressure on U.S. border control.
“The president has gotten Mexico to engage a lot more, if he can get them to play defense on their under 20-yard line instead of our 1 yard line called the U.S. border, then the better it is,” said Cuellar, stressing the strategic importance of Mexico's role in a collaborative border security framework.
In his radio appearance, Cuellar’s statements highlighted a crucial and often contentious aspect of U.S. immigration policy. “This is not the right case. This is not the right person to be saying that we need to bring him back to the United States,” he asserted, emphasizing the potential risk and the problematic precedent it could set.
This case underscores the complex layers of immigration, legal proceedings, and the varied perceptions of justice amongst lawmakers and public alike. As it stands, Garcia's situation remains a focal point of heated debate, mirroring the broader national discourse on immigration and border security.
Ultimately, Cuellar's dissent illustrates the ongoing struggle within political parties to balance empathy with law enforcement and national security with individual rights, signaling challenging discussions ahead for U.S. immigration policy.