Department of Homeland Security Slammed for Trash-Talking Abrego Garcia in X Post, Sparks Outrage Over Unprofessional Jabs

DHS post on X, September 5, 2025, mocking Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s fear of persecution in multiple countries: “‘Homie’ claims he’s scared of the entire Western Hemisphere.” The inflammatory caption sparked widespread criticism for its unprofessional tone.

September 6, 2025 – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is under fire for a series of inflammatory X posts targeting Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant entangled in a contentious deportation case. The posts, which critics have blasted as unprofessional and vindictive, have triggered widespread condemnation from lawmakers, advocates, and the public, who accuse the agency of weaponizing social media to vilify Abrego Garcia and advance President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies.

On August 25, 2025, DHS posted a video on X showing Abrego Garcia, 30, shackled and escorted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The caption read: “This MS-13 gangbanger doesn’t belong here. He’s outta here. America’s safer without him. Good riddance.” A follow-up post, attributed to Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis, labeled Abrego Garcia an “MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator,” asserting that no “activist judge” could hide the truth. On September 3, DHS escalated its rhetoric, accusing media outlets of “whitewashing” Abrego Garcia’s alleged crimes and doubling down on claims of his gang ties.

The posts, riddled with terms like “gangbanger” and “child predator,” have been slammed as unprofessional for a federal agency. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen called the language “disgusting and dangerous,” arguing it undermines due process and inflames public sentiment. Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, Abrego Garcia’s attorney, accused DHS of using “vicious rhetoric” to pressure his client into a guilty plea by threatening deportation to Uganda, a country with no connection to Abrego Garcia.

DHS's September 5, 2025, X post mocking Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s fear of persecution with the phrase “‘Homie’ claims he’s scared of the entire Western Hemisphere” drew fierce criticism from X users for its profane and unprofessional tone.

The controversy escalated with a September 5, 2025, DHS post that drew particular scorn for its use of profane and mocking language. Referencing Abrego Garcia’s legal claims of persecution in multiple countries, the post stated: “Homie is afraid of the entire Western Hemisphere.” The flippant tone sparked immediate backlash, with X user @spookshow_babyy commenting, “Homeland Security shouldn’t have a social media page and certainly shouldn’t be making fun of the nation’s citizens, calling them homie. Extremely unprofessional and shows how much our country is a joke to literally everyone else.” The remark resonated widely, amplifying calls for DHS to delete its X account.

Abrego Garcia’s case has drawn national attention. Initially granted “withholding of removal” in 2019 due to a credible fear of gang persecution in El Salvador, he was wrongfully deported in March 2025. The Supreme Court ordered his return in June, but he now faces human smuggling charges tied to a 2022 Tennessee traffic stop, where he was driving eight construction workers. His legal team denies MS-13 affiliations, emphasizing he has no criminal convictions. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, overseeing his habeas petition, has criticized the government for failing to provide evidence of gang ties and for defying court orders.

The controversy deepened when DHS posted a 2021 protective order filed by Abrego Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, which included their unredacted home address. The move forced Vasquez Sura and their three children into a safe house. In an interview with The Washington Post, she expressed fear for her family’s safety, calling the post a deliberate attempt to intimidate. DHS defended the action, claiming the document was public, but critics, including the American Immigration Council, condemned the agency for endangering a family to push a political narrative.

Legal experts argue the posts violate federal standards of conduct and risk prejudicing Abrego Garcia’s case. On X, users like @dank have challenged DHS’s claims, highlighting Abrego Garcia’s lack of convictions and prior legal status. Supporters of the administration, including former ICE director Tom Homan, have backed the agency’s stance, insisting Abrego Garcia is a “clear threat” who should be deported. The posts have also drawn comparisons to Trump’s own inflammatory rhetoric, including his recent Truth Social post threatening Chicago with mass deportations and referencing a “Department of War.”

The backlash has intensified scrutiny of DHS’s conduct under Trump’s second term, with critics arguing the agency’s use of X to target individuals signals a dangerous politicization of federal power. As Abrego Garcia faces potential deportation to Uganda, advocates are rallying to his defense, organizing protests and legal challenges. The case has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over immigration enforcement, with calls for accountability growing louder.