A Maryland mother’s heartbreak turned to outrage this week as Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to fight for a suspected criminal. Patty Morin, whose daughter Rachel was raped and murdered by an illegal immigrant, blasted the politician for ignoring victims while advocating for a man accused of human trafficking. Her fiery words at a White House press briefing exposed the raw nerve of America’s border crisis.
Rachel Morin’s killer, Victor Martinez-Hernandez, was convicted Monday for the 2023 attack on the Harford County mother of five. The Salvadoran national had entered the U.S. illegally before brutally ending Rachel’s life. Security cameras and memorial signs along the Ma & Pa Trail now stand as grim reminders of the crime.
While Rachel’s family waits for Martinez-Hernandez’s sentencing, Van Hollen flew to Central America to defend Kilmar Abrego-Garcia. This alleged MS-13 affiliate faces deportation after being linked to labor trafficking. The senator’s trip sparked fury from grieving parents who see misplaced priorities in Washington.
“Why does that person have more rights than my daughter?” Morin demanded, her voice shaking with emotion. She accused leaders of bending over backward for criminals while forgetting Americans like Rachel. The contrast couldn’t be starker – a convicted murderer versus a politician fighting for a deportation suspect.
Harford County residents voiced mixed reactions along the trail where Rachel died. Some blamed lax border policies for inviting violence, while others cautioned against judging all immigrants. But for Morin, the math is simple: open borders equal dead children. She called Martinez-Hernandez’s crime proof of disastrous leadership.
The White House has repeatedly defended Abrego-Garcia’s case, calling for “fair treatment” under immigration laws. Critics fire back that fairness vanished when Rachel’s children lost their mother. Every day, families pay the price for catch-and-release policies that let dangerous men roam free.
Van Hollen’s office claims the El Salvador trip aims to address “root causes” of migration. Patriots aren’t buying it. They see a betrayal – elites jet-setting to protect foreign gang members while Main Street mothers bury their daughters. The senator’s silence toward Rachel’s family speaks volumes.
As Martinez-Hernandez awaits a life sentence, Morin vows to keep fighting. Her message cuts through the political noise: Americans deserve safety, not apologies for criminals. Until the border closes and leaders put citizens first, more tragedies will stain this nation’s soil.
