Fox News host Jesse Watters directly challenged Democrat strategist and co-host Jessica Tarlov on Monday over her defense of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant recently deported by the Trump administration due to alleged connections with the violent MS-13 gang.

The exchange took place during a segment of The Five on Fox News, where Watters took issue with Democrats’ shifting stance on Abrego Garcia, particularly after the administration acknowledged that his deportation in March had been classified as an “administrative error.”

“Jessica keeps on saying there’s all these mistakes,” Watters said during the live segment.

“First, she said this guy was picked up because he had a [Chicago] Bull’s hat. Then he has tattoos on his hand that spell MS-13.”

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Tarlov quickly interjected, saying, “That’s not true.” Watters replied, “Yes, it is. Read the symbolism, Jessica. What are you, a gang detective? Cut it out.”

Watters continued outlining details tied to Abrego Garcia’s past, stating that he had worn clothing bearing MS-13 slogans, had been swept up in a gang investigation involving ranking members, and was linked to a murder case.

He also pointed out allegations of human trafficking and a domestic violence incident involving Garcia’s wife.

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“Then gets pulled over. He’s suspected of human trafficking. Then gets accused of slugging his wife twice, and she has it on video,” Watters said.

“Suddenly, his name isn’t ‘Maryland Dad.’ It’s ‘Due Process.’ You transitioned pretty quickly, Jessica.”

Abrego Garcia, who had been residing in Maryland with his American wife and child prior to his deportation, became the center of a legal battle after a federal judge appointed under the Obama administration ordered the Trump administration to bring him back to the United States. The matter was escalated to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Court documents revealed that Abrego Garcia’s wife had previously sought a restraining order against him for domestic violence.

These revelations have influenced the ongoing debate surrounding his deportation and whether he should be allowed to return to the U.S.

Watters accused Democrats of selectively invoking due process depending on the political context.

“You can’t break into the country and ignore the process of coming here and then want a process to leave,” he said.

“You cannot cut the line to come here and then ask to be put in a line to go home.”

He added, “If you guys are going to be the defense attorneys for every criminal gangbanger in America after you’ve allowed the gangs to invade and now say all of them need lawyers, it’s going to be an eternity, Jessica, to get these people out of here.”

The Fox News host also addressed Senator Chris Van Hollen’s (D-MD) recent trip to El Salvador to meet with Abrego Garcia, a visit that has drawn criticism from conservatives.

The senator defended his decision to meet with the deported migrant amid questions surrounding Garcia’s legal history and alleged gang affiliation.

“The slippery slope argument. Is this the slipperiest slope you’ve ever seen? If they deport an MS-13 terrorist, you’re next,” Watters said.

“Who? The Puerto Ricans? Anybody with a tan, Jessica? Are you next? No one believes that. This is the dictator hoax all over again. You lost on that the last time.”

The segment added to growing national scrutiny of how lawmakers and media figures are responding to enforcement actions taken against individuals with alleged gang ties, especially amid a broader debate over immigration and border security under the Trump administration.

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