WASHINGTON, D.C. — The White House sharply criticized Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen today, accusing him of prioritizing the welfare of an illegal immigrant and MS-13 gang member over that of American citizens, including a murdered Maryland mother of five.
In an official article published Wednesday on the White House website, the administration questioned Van Hollen’s current visit to El Salvador, where the senator is advocating on behalf of a Salvadoran national described as a known gang member and human trafficker.
“The criminal illegal immigrant is already home — he’s a Salvadoran citizen,” the article stated bluntly.
The criticism centered on the senator’s recent statement that he “won’t stop fighting until he’s home,” referring to the Salvadoran detainee. The White House contrasted this advocacy with Van Hollen’s alleged silence regarding the case of Rachel Morin, a Maryland resident and mother of five who was brutally murdered last year by an individual the government identified as an illegal immigrant.
“Where was the Maryland senator’s concern when one of his own constituents… was brutally murdered by an illegal immigrant? Van Hollen didn’t even bother to contact her family,” the statement read.
The White House also condemned Maryland’s sanctuary policies, particularly those in Montgomery County, the state’s second-most populous county, arguing that such policies have enabled violent criminals to evade justice.
In its release, the administration highlighted several recent arrests of illegal immigrants in Maryland by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), implying that these individuals were allowed to roam free under the state’s current immigration policies.
“Van Hollen didn’t say a word about the radical policies that put his constituents at risk,” the White House asserted.
The article is the latest in a series of pointed attacks by the Trump administration, which has taken a hardline stance on immigration enforcement, particularly targeting Democratic leaders who support sanctuary policies or advocate for immigrant rights.
Senator Van Hollen’s office has not publicly responded to the White House’s criticism as of this writing.
Background
The senator’s trip to El Salvador comes amid growing political and legal scrutiny of the Biden-era immigration leniencies that have since been reversed under President Trump’s 2025 administration. The White House’s focus on the Rachel Morin case, which sparked national outrage, has become central to the administration’s broader campaign to tighten immigration controls and hold state and local leaders accountable for sanctuary-related policies.
While supporters of Senator Van Hollen describe his actions as rooted in humanitarian values and due process, critics view them as ignoring the safety concerns of American citizens.
For ongoing updates on this story and more immigration policy developments, follow the Virginia Times.
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