Opinion: Black America Shouldn’t Waste Political Capital on Kilmar Abrego Garcia

“Why are we caping for an illegal alien when our kids can’t get decent schools?” Jasmine Crockett and Cory Booker should focus on legal constituents, not Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Photo Courtesy of X

The saga of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran illegal immigrant deported to El Salvador in March 2025 has become a rallying cry for some Democratic lawmakers including Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Senator Cory Booker.

Framed as a miscarriage of justice, Garcia’s case—marked by the Trump administration’s refusal to facilitate his return—has drawn significant political attention. But for Black America, this focus is a misstep. The Black community should not, and does not, want its political capital squandered on non-citizens like Garcia when pressing issues like economic disparity, criminal justice reform, and community safety demand urgent action.

Garcia’s deportation in March 2025, despite a 2019 court order barring his removal to El Salvador specifically, has been framed by some Democrats as a constitutional crisis. Held in a Salvadoran prison, Garcia has become a cause célèbre for politicians like Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who argue that the Trump administration’s refusal to facilitate his return defies the rule of law.

Senator Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador via X

The evidence against Kilmar Abrego Garcia centers on allegations of MS-13 gang membership, a dismissed 2021 protective order, and a 2022 human trafficking suspicion, none of which resulted in criminal charges or convictions. A 2019 informant’s claim, a Form I-213 document linking him to a murder investigation, and his clothing were cited by immigration authorities, but courts and legal experts have questioned their reliability.

While this legal tug-of-war dominates headlines, Black Americans are asking why their elected officials are expending so much energy on an illegal alien when their own communities face systemic crises that demand attention. Many Black voters want leaders to focus on tangible solutions—job creation, healthcare access, safer streets—not legal battles for non-citizens that dominate headlines but deliver little for their communities.

Posts across social media reflect growing discontent, with users accusing Democrats of “playing politics” while Black communities “get crumbs.” An X user writes, “Why are we fighting for someone who shouldn’t be here when our own people can’t get a fair shot?” Another user writes, “Why are we caping for an illegal alien when our kids can’t get decent schools?” The sentiment seems widespread. Political capital spent on illegal aliens feels like a betrayal.

Some view the Garcia case as a symbol of misplaced priorities, feeding into narratives—amplified by Trump and his allies—that Democrats care more about illegal immigrants than American citizens. This perception could prove costly, especially as Black voter turnout has shown signs of waning in recent elections. If Democrats don’t refocus, they risk further eroding trust among a community that has long been their backbone.

The Black community isn’t heartless. Many are tired of seeing their struggles take a backseat to the causes of non-citizens. Politicians should heed this call and redirect their efforts toward policies that uplift legal residents: better schools, safer neighborhoods, and economic opportunities that close the racial wealth gap.

The fight for Kilmar Abrego Garcia may matter to some, but for many Black Americans, it’s a distraction from the battles they’ve been fighting for generations.