Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, the Democrats’ leading figure in the far-left Squad, used a four-letter word to shoo off a reporter who asked whether her party should be visiting a deported illegal immigrant who’s an accused member of the brutal gang MS-13.
“I think you should f—- off,” Ms. Omar replied as she strolled past the reporter.
The reporter, Myles Morrel of the Daily Caller News Foundation, filmed his Thursday exchange with Ms. Omar, and the footage went viral on social media.
He had asked the lawmaker if Democrats “should be traveling to El Salvador to advocate on behalf of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.”
Mr. Abrego Garcia was deported to a prison in his home country of El Salvador in March.
Democrats have rallied around his case as an example of Mr. Trump’s aggressive efforts to oust migrants.
Four House Democrats and one Senate Democrat, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, have traveled to El Salvador to visit Mr. Abrego Garcia, portraying him as an innocent father and husband swept up in the Trump administration’s lawless deportations.
A judge ruled Mr. Abrego Garcia should not have been deported due to his protected legal status.
But administration officials cited evidence of gang involvement and possible human smuggling. Mr. Garcia’s wife has also accused him twice of domestic violence and, in court documents, said her husband bragged he could kill her without repercussions.
If he’s returned to the U.S., he’ll likely face quick deportation once again, administration officials said.
Democrats have faced criticism for championing Mr. Abrego Garcia’s case. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York Democrat, has quietly counseled rank-and-file lawmakers to avoid future trips to El Salvador to visit Mr. Abrego Garcia.
On social media, Ms. Omar doubled down on her profanity-laced answer, which she delivered as she strolled outside between the Capitol and her office.
“I said what I said. You and all your miserable trolls can f*ck off,” she posted on X.
