Senator Demands Freedom For Barabbas To Punish MAGA

Senator Chris Van Hollen’s recent actions have sparked controversy as he has been accused of demanding the release of Barabbas—a symbolic reference to a criminal figure—rather than conceding that former President Donald Trump’s stance on certain policies might have merit. Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, has been vocal in his opposition to Trump’s administration, particularly on issues like immigration and deportation. Critics argue that his trip to El Salvador to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man deported despite a court order, reflects a broader pattern of prioritizing political point-scoring over pragmatic acknowledgment of Trump’s policies. They liken this to the biblical narrative of Barabbas, suggesting Van Hollen would rather defend a questionable cause than admit Trump’s hardline deportation approach might address some security concerns, such as those tied to gang activity like MS-13, which the Trump administration frequently highlighted.

Van Hollen’s visit to El Salvador on April 17, 2025, to meet Abrego Garcia, who was deported in March despite a 2019 court order protecting him, has been framed by detractors as an example of this “Barabbas” stance. The Trump administration admitted the deportation was an error, but maintained Abrego Garcia was an MS-13 member—a claim his lawyers and Van Hollen dispute, citing a lack of evidence. Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele mocked Van Hollen, with Trump calling him a “GRANDSTANDER” on Truth Social and Bukele sarcastically noting Abrego Garcia was “sipping margaritas” in custody. Critics, including White House officials, argue Van Hollen’s focus on this case ignores the broader context of Trump’s immigration crackdown, which they say has led to arrests of undocumented immigrants posing risks to communities—like the murderer of Rachel Morin, a Maryland woman killed in 2023 by an alleged Salvadoran fugitive. They claim Van Hollen’s refusal to acknowledge any validity in Trump’s approach mirrors a stubborn denial of reality.

However, Van Hollen’s defenders counter that this narrative is a distortion meant to vilify him for holding the Trump administration accountable. They argue that his trip was about ensuring due process for Abrego Garcia, not about releasing a criminal like Barabbas, but rather about upholding the rule of law against what they see as Trump’s overreach. The Supreme Court and a federal judge ordered Abrego Garcia’s return, yet the administration resisted, prompting Van Hollen to act. His supporters say this isn’t about admitting Trump is right, but about ensuring justice in a case where the government violated its own legal standards. The “Barabbas” critique, they argue, is a rhetorical tactic to distract from the administration’s failures, with Van Hollen’s actions reflecting a commitment to fairness rather than political posturing.