Staff Reports
New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew has once again sounded the alarm over what he sees as a dangerous shift in American priorities, as Democratic lawmakers rally behind Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who was mistakenly deported from Maryland and subsequently imprisoned in El Salvador. Van Drew’s frustration is palpable: while Democrats travel abroad to champion Garcia’s return, the plight of American families harmed by crimes committed by illegal immigrants is seemingly ignored. This episode is just the latest example of a political class more interested in virtue signaling than in defending the interests of everyday Americans.
The facts of the Garcia case are troubling. Garcia, who entered the U.S. unlawfully in 2011 and was arrested in 2019, was granted withholding of removal by an immigration judge—a legal status that should have prevented his deportation. Yet, in March, he was mistakenly sent to El Salvador and placed in a prison with accused gang members. Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Robert Garcia, have since traveled to El Salvador, demanding his return and warning of a “major constitutional crisis” if the administration fails to comply with a judge’s order. But for many Americans, the real crisis is the misplaced priorities of their elected leaders.
Van Drew’s critique is straightforward: why are Democrats so eager to defend individuals with questionable backgrounds while neglecting the victims of crimes perpetrated by illegal immigrants? The families who have lost loved ones or suffered at the hands of those who should not have been in the country rarely receive visits from high-profile politicians. Instead, the political spotlight is turned on those whose very presence in the U.S. is a product of broken immigration policies and bureaucratic failures. This is a direct affront to the rule of law and to the millions of legal immigrants who followed the proper channels.
The congressman’s concerns extend beyond immigration. Van Drew has also criticized the Biden administration’s willingness to spend billions on international projects and conflicts, such as the ongoing war in Ukraine, while neglecting pressing domestic needs. He has called for a return to common sense: stop wasting taxpayer dollars on “bizarre, dysfunctional programs around the world” and instead invest in American families, veterans, and the victims of crime. The message is clear—America’s leaders should put American citizens first, not foreign interests or individuals who have flouted the nation’s laws.
At a time when working-class Americans are struggling to make ends meet, the spectacle of lawmakers prioritizing the return of a deported criminal over the needs of their constituents is a stark reminder of the disconnect between Washington and the rest of the country. Van Drew’s stance resonates with those who believe in the rule of law, secure borders, and a government that serves its people first. It’s time for leaders to refocus on the real issues facing America, rather than chasing headlines and appeasing activist causes that undermine public safety and national sovereignty.
