In a move that redefines political low blows, the Trump administration has shifted its focus from wrongfully deported Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia to targeting his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura. After admitting that Abrego Garcia’s deportation was an “administrative error,” the administration has doubled down by releasing unredacted documents containing Vasquez Sura’s personal information, forcing her and her children into hiding due to safety concerns.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended its actions by stating that the documents were publicly accessible, seemingly overlooking the potential risks of disseminating personal addresses in high-profile cases. This move has been criticized as a tactic to intimidate and discredit Vasquez Sura, who has been vocal in advocating for her husband’s return.

During an interview on Newsmax’s Wake Up America Thursday, assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin criticized Vasquez Sura, who’d been forced to move her family to a safe house after the DHS posted a document that included her full address.

McLaughlin tried to claim that the government hadn’t done anything wrong by posting the documents.

“These were publicly accessible documents,” she said. “It wasn’t just the Department of Homeland Security that had them, it’s any member of the American public can go out to a courthouse and get these documents. So to try to lay that at our feet is just inaccurate.”

But McLaughlin took it a step further, attempting to sow doubt about Vasquez Sura’s “sob story.”

“I think it’s important to point to her credibility, a number of times, including that in her own written testimony she said she feared her husband,” McLaughlin said. The document the government had posted containing the family’s address was a protective order that Vasquez Sura had sought against her husband but then abandoned.

“She said that he abused her, that he ripped off her shirt, that he slapped her, that he was scratching her, that she was trying to take her children away. And now she’s pushing this sob story that they had a wonderful relationship, that they never fought,” McLaughlin said. “I think most couples fight, so, I unfortunately think this woman is burning down her own credibility as well.”

In reality, it’s McLaughlin who has undermined her own credibility in her crusade to see Abrego Garcia remain in El Salvador. Last week, she claimed in a post on X that when Abrego Garcia was arrested in 2019 for loitering, he was found with “rolls of cash.” But anyone who actually bothers to read the uncompelling police documents would know that the hoodie he was wearing at the time had cash printed on it.

1. When Garcia was arrested he was found with rolls of cash and drugs.
2. He was arrested with two other members of MS-13.
3. Two judges found that he was a member of MS-13. That finding has not been disturbed.
4. When arrested he was wearing what is effectively MS-13’s uniform. pic.twitter.com/iDY7jP371Y

— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) April 16, 2025

Despite the administration’s claims, there has been no concrete evidence presented in court linking Abrego Garcia to criminal activities. In fact, a 2019 immigration judge granted him protection from deportation due to credible threats he faced in El Salvador. However, the administration bypassed this ruling, leading to his detention in a Salvadoran prison known for its harsh conditions.

Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland traveled to El Salvador to meet with Abrego Garcia, highlighting the case’s significance in upholding constitutional protections. He emphasized that the administration’s actions represent a broader issue of authoritarian overreach and a threat to civil liberties.

The administration’s approach has drawn criticism from various quarters, including conservative legal experts who argue that such actions undermine the rule of law and due process. The case has become emblematic of the tensions between immigration enforcement and civil liberties, revealing deep ideological divides within the political landscape.

As the legal battle continues, the focus remains on ensuring that constitutional rights are upheld and that individuals are not subjected to punitive actions without due process. The treatment of Jennifer Vasquez Sura and her family serves as a stark reminder of the personal toll such political maneuvers can exact.

DHS official Tricia McLaughlin attacks Abrego Garcia's wife: "I think it's important to point to her credibility … now she's pushing this sob story … I think most couples fight, so I unfortunately think this woman is burning down her own credibility as well." pic.twitter.com/dp7B9K0Ykf

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 24, 2025