In a poignant display of grief and political tension, President Donald Trump embraced Patty Morin, the mother of Rachel Morin, during a White House meeting on April 16, 2025. Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five from Maryland, was brutally raped and murdered in 2023 by Victor Martinez-Hernandez, a fugitive from El Salvador. Trump invited Patty Morin to the White House to highlight his administration's strict deportation policies, which he argues are essential for public safety.
During their meeting in the Oval Office, Trump offered words of comfort, telling Morin, "Your daughter is looking down proud of you, you know that… she’s proud of you." This emotional encounter came just hours after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen for his trip to El Salvador to visit Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man deported in March 2025, who the Trump administration claims is linked to a violent gang.
Leavitt described Van Hollen's actions as "appalling and sad," asserting that he was using taxpayer dollars to advocate for the return of a deported illegal alien, whom she labeled an MS-13 terrorist. At the briefing, Leavitt introduced Patty Morin as a "special guest," allowing her to voice her concerns about the handling of her daughter's case.
Morin, visibly emotional, criticized Van Hollen for his minimal acknowledgment of Rachel's death. "The senator from Maryland who didn’t even acknowledge — or barely acknowledged — my daughter and the brutal death that she endured, leaving her five children without a mother, chose to use my tax money to fly to El Salvador to bring back a person who isn’t even an American citizen," she said.
Rachel Morin's murder occurred while she was hiking outside Baltimore. Her killer, Martinez-Hernandez, was convicted on April 14, 2025, of first-degree murder, first-degree rape, third-degree sexual offense, and kidnapping. Patty Morin shared the horrific details of her daughter’s death, describing how Martinez-Hernandez had attacked Rachel violently. "This person took my daughter so violently and so gruesomely that they sealed the pictures because I don't want my granddaughters to see these pictures," she stated, emphasizing the brutality of the crime.
In response to the conviction of her daughter's killer, Patty Morin expressed her belief that the Trump administration's focus on deporting violent criminals is necessary for the safety of American citizens. "These are the kind of criminals President Trump wants to remove from our country. These are the kind of criminals that we need to remove from our country. We are American citizens. Why should we allow people like this, violent criminals that have no conscience at all to murder our mothers, our sisters, our daughters? I don’t understand," she said.
As the White House briefing continued, Patty Morin pleaded with the media to "tell the truth" about the violence that exists and the need to protect American families. "This is about national security, protecting Americans, protecting our children," she said passionately.
Meanwhile, Senator Van Hollen's trip to El Salvador was met with criticism from the Trump administration. Van Hollen aimed to show solidarity with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who the administration acknowledged was mistakenly deported. The senator has argued that Garcia, who lived in Maryland and has no criminal record in the U.S., should not be held in a Salvadoran prison without evidence of wrongdoing.
In a statement following the conviction of Rachel Morin’s killer, Van Hollen expressed his commitment to improving border security while also supporting immigrant communities. He stated, "The American people deserve meaningful action to reform our broken immigration system, improve public safety, and strengthen our border security. We can do this while also supporting our immigrant communities and respecting the rights of individuals who are here legally."
The contrasting narratives surrounding Rachel Morin’s murder and Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation have sparked significant political debate. The Trump administration has maintained that Garcia is tied to the MS-13 gang, a claim that his attorneys have denied. The Department of Homeland Security has also indicated that Garcia has a history of violence, which further complicates the situation.
As the political fallout continues, Patty Morin's emotional appeal has resonated with many who echo her concerns about public safety and the need for strict immigration policies. The administration's handling of Garcia's case and the broader implications for immigration reform remain contentious issues.
In recent developments, a U.S. District Judge ruled that there is "probable cause" to hold Trump administration officials in contempt for violating court orders related to the deportation of alleged gang members. This ruling adds another layer of complexity to the already heated debate over immigration policy and enforcement.
As the situation unfolds, the Morin family's tragic story serves as a stark reminder of the human impact of immigration policies and the ongoing struggle over how to balance public safety with the rights of individuals. Patty Morin's call for truth and justice continues to resonate, pushing the narrative of her daughter's murder into the national spotlight.
