House Republican leaders have denied Democratic lawmakers’ requests to use taxpayer funds for an official trip to El Salvador’s high-security prison, where deported Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia is being held. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) rejected the proposal, stating that Democrats should finance the visit themselves if they wish to meet with an individual accused of gang affiliations and domestic abuse.
Democrats, including Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), had sought to lead a congressional delegation to the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) to assess Abrego Garcia’s condition. Abrego Garcia was deported despite a 2019 court order allowing him to remain in the U.S. due to fears of persecution. His legal team disputes the allegations against him, asserting that he was wrongfully removed.
The refusal to authorize the trip has intensified partisan tensions over immigration enforcement and congressional oversight. While some Republican lawmakers have visited CECOT, Democrats argue that their efforts to conduct similar oversight are being unfairly obstructed.
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) recently traveled to El Salvador to meet with Abrego Garcia but was denied access to the prison. The situation underscores the ongoing debate over immigration policies and the use of government resources for congressional investigations.