White House Deputy Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a sharp rebuke of Senator Chris Van Hollen and congressional Democrats for publicly advocating for the release of an MS-13 gang member currently in U.S. custody.

The individual, identified as an illegal alien with confirmed ties to the notorious transnational gang, has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and public safety.

During a Fox News segment, Leavitt addressed the controversy directly, pointing to multiple legal rulings and law enforcement confirmations establishing the gang affiliation of the individual in question.

“He is an illegal alien, a foreign terrorist and a criminal, MS-13 gang member who violated our country's laws by coming here in the first place,” Leavitt said.

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“And shame on Senator Chris Van Hollen and the entire Democrat Party who wasted Easter Sunday going on every television show in the country to advocate for the return of an illegal criminal gang member.”

Leavitt cited a "litany of evidence" that has been presented in court confirming the individual's gang ties.

“There is a litany of evidence proving this individual's ties to MS-13 that has been confirmed in two different courts. There have been multiple law enforcement officers who have affirmed his MS-13 gang affiliation, and this is who the Democrat Party is advocating for. It is ridiculous,” she said.

President Donald Trump’s administration, Leavitt emphasized, remains committed to prioritizing the removal of criminal illegal aliens from the country.

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She framed that effort as not only an enforcement issue but one backed by broad public consensus.

“The President, this White House, the entire administration, will continue to focus on deporting these illegal alien gang members and criminals from our nation's interior and enforcing our country's immigration laws. That's what the President was re-elected to do,” Leavitt said.

“And I would add that the overwhelming majority of Americans continue to support the deportation of illegal criminals. A recent CBS poll showed that 89% of the American people support deporting illegal criminals from our homeland.”

Leavitt also criticized Democrats for ignoring the real victims of MS-13 violence while promoting the cause of a confirmed gang member.

She specifically referenced Patty Morin, whose daughter was murdered by MS-13 members.

Morin recently visited the White House to share her family’s story and voice support for stricter immigration enforcement.

“Democrats continue to trip over themselves, while ignoring American citizens whose lives have been forever impacted by the actions and the crimes of these illegal criminals like Patty Morin, who we were so honored to have at the White House to share her daughter's story,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt further accused Senator Van Hollen of failing to engage with families affected by MS-13 violence while publicly advocating for a known gang member.

“Just last week, Senator Van Hollen has never called her, has never reached out to her family, yet he has spent hours now fawning over this illegal alien who was tied to a vicious gang that has taken the lives of American citizens. It's unbelievable,” she said.

🚨Karoline Leavitt SCORCHES Democrats for protecting an MS-13 terrorist:

"Shame on Sen. Chris Van Hollen and the entire Dem. Party… wasted Easter Sunday going on every television show to advocate for the return of an illegal criminal gang member." pic.twitter.com/UfZPmGOPxY— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) April 21, 2025

The remarks come as the White House intensifies its messaging on border security and immigration enforcement amid ongoing public concern over violent crime and illegal immigration.

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