Kevin Hern

House Republican committee chairs are denying Democrats’ requests to travel to El Salvador and visit its CECOT prison facility as scrutiny builds on the Trump administration’s handling of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s mistaken deportation. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) and House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) this week denied [...]

At least two Republican House members and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have toured the same Salvadoran prison that turned away a Senate Democrat seeking to speak with a mistakenly deported constituent.Why it matters: CECOT in Tecoluca, El Salvador, has become the symbol of President Trump's immigration crackdown after he sent hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants there with little or no due process.Trump has repeatedly raised the prospect of sending American citizens to prisons in El Salvador, recently telling President Nayib Bukele to "build about five more places" during an Oval Office visit.What we're watching: Democrats in both chambers of Congress are working to organize delegations to El Salvador, including Reps. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) and Sen Cory Booker (D-N.J.)."Given that the Administration's use of CECOT for illegal and unconstitutional deportations is rife with 'administrative errors' ... I urgently request a CODEL to conduct oversight," Ramirez wrote on Wednesday. Yes, but: House Republican committee chairs have refused to authorize Democrats' requests to lead official congressional delegations to El Salvador. House Homeland Security Committee chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) said he wouldn't grant Ramirez's request. Van Hollen tries to contact Ábrego GarcíaSen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said on Wednesday and Thursday his requests to see or speak to Kilmar Ábrego García, his mistakenly deported constituent, were denied.Ábrego García was deported to El Salvador in what the Trump administration later said was an "administrative error."The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Trump must "facilitate" Ábrego García's return, but Bukele said he wouldn't return or release him. Context: Bukele in 2022 ordered the prison be built as part of a response to surging gang violence in El Salvador, per NPR. Each cell can fit 65 to 70 prisoners, and the prison has a capacity of 40,000 inmates. The deported Venezuelan migrants are living in the same conditions as convicted gangsters, prison director Belarmino García told CNN. Visitation, recreation and education are not typically allowed the terrorism confinement center.Republican politicians at CECOTHomeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the prison in March. "If you come to our country illegally, this is one of the consequences you could face," Noem said in a video standing in front of a packed cell of prisoners. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) on Tuesday shared photos of himself at the prison.In a statement, he praised President Trump for the deportations and detentions. Rep. Riley Moore (R-W. Va.) similarly shared photos on Tuesday, including one of him standing in front of a cell posing with thumbs up. "I leave now even more determined to support President Trump's efforts to secure our homeland" he wrote on X. Five other GOP members visited El Salvador, per a photo shared by the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador. However, it doesn't say whether they visited the prison.Those lawmakers are Reps. Claudia Tenney (NY), Mike Kennedy (Utah), Carol Miller (W. Va.), Ron Estes (Kansas) and Kevin Hern (Okla.), per journalist Marisa Kabas.A spokesperson for Miller did not respond to direct questions about the trip. The other representatives' offices did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.The embassy's post, written in Spanish, said the delegation was "visiting the country to strengthen bilateral ties and discuss initiatives that promote economic development and mutual cooperation."Go deeper: Inside Democrats' scramble to travel to El SalvadorTimeline: The case of a Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador

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A look at all the stories, photos and videos from Tuesday night's local elections.

The Tulsa World's newsroom will share updates throughout the night as editors, reporters and photographers report from across the city and state.

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The Tulsa World's newsroom will share updates throughout the night as editors, reporters and photographers report from across the city and state.

The Tulsa World's newsroom will share updates throughout the night.

Election Day is almost here. Get caught up on all the races, candidates and issues and get informed before you head to the polls Tuesday to vote.

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