The mother of murdered Maryland woman Rachel Morin left the White House press corps in shock on Wednesday as she criticized state senator Chris Van Hollen for traveling to El Salvador to assist in the return of a deported alleged MS-13 gang member. Patty Morin expressed her disbelief, stating, “I just don’t understand this,” after detailing the brutal murder of her 37-year-old daughter by 24-year-old Victor Martinez-Hernandez, an undocumented Salvadoran immigrant who was convicted of the crime on Monday.

Morin was outraged that a senator from Maryland, who barely acknowledged her daughter’s horrific death and the impact it had on her five children, would use taxpayer money to fly to El Salvador for someone who isn’t even an American citizen. Van Hollen’s trip aimed to advocate for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported last month after being arrested in Prince George’s County, just outside Washington, D.C., according to the New York Post.

During the press briefing, Morin questioned why the government of El Salvador continued to detain Abrego Garcia without evidence of any crime, especially when Van Hollen had made misleading statements to reporters. The Trump administration had released case files identifying Abrego Garcia as a member of the now-terrorist-designated MS-13 group, and he had previously entered the U.S. illegally, facing a deportation order from a federal judge.

Amid the ongoing public relations battle over Abrego Garcia’s case, the Department of Homeland Security revealed that he was accused of physically abusing his wife in 2021. While there is no known connection between Abrego Garcia and Martinez-Hernandez, Patty Morin emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to deport alleged criminals living in the U.S. illegally. She passionately questioned, “Why are we not protecting American citizens? It’s just common sense. Why aren’t we safeguarding our children?” as she criticized Van Hollen for his actions.