Booker Plans El Salvador Trip to Free Accused MS-13 Member

Senator Cory Booker is considering leading a trip to El Salvador to demand the release of an accused MS-13 member, an illegal immigrant, back to the U.S., as stated on April 15, 2025. The individual, a native of El Salvador, was spared deportation in 2019 due to fears of gang persecution. Booker is joined by House Democrats in this effort.

The accused MS-13 member was nearly deported in 2019, but an immigration judge halted the process. The judge cited likely persecution by local gangs in El Salvador as the reason.

MS-13, a violent gang formed in the 1980s in Los Angeles, has roots in Central America, particularly El Salvador. Its members are often linked to crimes like drug trafficking and murder.

Booker’s potential trip involves dozens of House Democrats, including Representatives Robert Garcia and Maxwell Frost. Their goal is to secure the individual’s return to the U.S.

U.S. immigration policy allows judges to grant relief from deportation in cases of credible persecution fears. This provision stems from international asylum laws adopted by the U.S. in the 1980s.

The individual’s status as an accused MS-13 member raises questions about public safety and immigration enforcement. MS-13’s notoriety has fueled debates over deporting gang-affiliated individuals.

Some Americans support Booker’s effort, viewing it as a defense of humanitarian principles and due process. Others criticize it as prioritizing illegal immigrants over U.S. citizens’ safety.

Advocates argue that protecting individuals from persecution upholds U.S. values. Opponents contend that releasing accused gang members undermines law enforcement and border security.