Senator Cory Booker is under fire for championing the return of a Salvadoran deportee while facing sharp criticism from a former constituent held hostage in Iran.
At a Glance
- Cory Booker backs return of deportee Kilmar Abrego Garcia
- Former hostage Xiyue Wang slams Booker’s past inaction
- U.S. Supreme Court ruled Garcia’s deportation unlawful
- CODEL trip to El Salvador hinges on GOP approval
- Critics cite double standards in human rights advocacy
A Divisive Advocacy Campaign
Senator Cory Booker is drawing both praise and condemnation after launching a campaign to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the U.S. Garcia, a Salvadoran national deported in March 2025, had previously lived in Maryland and was under legal protection from removal, according to a report from Reuters. Despite a 2019 court order shielding him from deportation, the Trump administration removed Garcia, later admitting it was an “administrative error.”
Now held in El Salvador’s Cecot high-security prison, Garcia’s case has become a flashpoint in U.S. immigration politics. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the federal government must facilitate his return. However, officials argue that El Salvador’s cooperation is required, and the Salvadoran government has not yet responded.
Watch Fox News’ report on the incident at Dems Head to El Salvador in Deportee Showdown.
Xiyue Wang Slams Booker’s Double Standard
Booker’s push to bring Garcia back to U.S. soil has sparked outrage from Xiyue Wang, a former Princeton graduate student who was imprisoned in Iran from 2016 to 2019. Wang, a New Jersey resident during his captivity, accused Booker of ignoring his plight despite being his constituent.
“Booker never advocated for my release & refused to speak to my wife,” Wang stated in comments published by The Blaze. Wang expressed frustration that Booker is now vigorously advocating for a non-citizen’s return despite previously refusing to engage in his case.
Wang reiterated on social media that “I was an NJ resident, Sen. @CoryBooker’s constituent, when I was jailed in Iran as an American hostage,” and suggested Booker’s actions reflect “selective intervention” for political gain.
Politics, Crime, and Public Backlash
The Garcia case has inflamed partisan tensions. Democrats like Booker and Senator Chris Van Hollen are pushing for a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to El Salvador to press for Garcia’s return, as outlined by Truth Press and echoed by Townhall. Representative Robert Garcia and Representative Maxwell Frost have formally requested authorization for the trip from House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer.
However, critics argue this mission sends the wrong message. Conservative commentators cite tragedies like the murder of Rachel Morin, a Maryland resident killed by an undocumented immigrant, as evidence of misplaced priorities. Townhall columnist Matt Vespa lambasted the Democrats’ focus on Garcia while saying “none of these lawmakers said a word about Rachel Morin.”
Meanwhile, supporters of Booker contend that his efforts align with a broader commitment to due process and civil liberties. They note that while allegations of MS-13 ties have circulated, Garcia has not been formally charged or convicted of gang involvement.
A Polarizing National Debate
This episode is not just about immigration. It’s about the moral calculus of political action, and whether elected officials apply their advocacy equitably. Booker’s detractors, like Wang, see hypocrisy. His defenders see principled leadership.
The outcome of the CODEL effort—and whether El Salvador ultimately cooperates—could have ripple effects on U.S. immigration policy and diplomatic relations. In the meantime, the controversy has thrust both Kilmar Abrego Garcia and Xiyue Wang into the national spotlight, forcing hard questions about justice, representation, and political accountability.
