Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin take heat for backing Biden's border plans despite Rachel Morin's murder

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

WASHINGTON, DC: Both Democratic senators from Maryland, Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin have lamented the "broken" border situation while still applauding President Joe Biden's border policies despite claims that an illegal immigrant killed a mother of five in the state.

"My heart breaks for the Morin family," Van Hollen told the Baltimore Sun after the arrest of 23-year-old illegal El Salvadorian migrant Victor Martinez Hernandez in connection to the murder of Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five.

Senator Van Hollen agrees that the US 'immigration system is broken'

"The Morin family deserves more than words – they deserve action. There’s no doubt our immigration system is broken," Van Hollen agreed.

"That’s why I voted last month to move onto bipartisan legislation that would allow us to begin addressing our border security and comprehensive immigration reforms, but Republicans slammed the door shut," he added.

Senator Ben Cardin echoed Chris Van Hollen's comments on the US border crisis

Sen Cardin of Maryland agreed with Van Hollen, telling the Baltimore Sun that "Congress needs to act" and that the immigration system in the United States is "broken."

In line with Van Hollen, Cardin also accused Republicans of impeding legislation aimed "to make reforms and inject resources into a system bursting at the seams."

Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen took a different approach to Joe Biden's border policies

In the wake of the news, both Maryland lawmakers swiftly pointed the finger across the aisle, but they approached President Biden's policies in different ways.

The president, who has come under fire recently for how he has handled the situation at the border, has announced several executive actions that are intended to change the immigration laws in the US.

Critics claimed that the most recent action, which was announced on Tuesday, June 18, and provides about 500,000 undocumented spouses and family members of US citizens with a pathway to legal status, will encourage more illegal crossings.

"The president may think our homeland security is some kind of game that he can try to use for political points, but Americans know this amnesty plan will only incentivize more illegal immigration and endanger Americans," Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La, said after Biden's announcement.

Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin struck a more celebratory tone after the announcement

Following the announcement, Van Hollen and Cardin adopted a more joyous tone, praising Biden's most recent action on social media.

"Families shouldn’t be torn apart because of our broken immigration system," Van Hollen said on X (formerly Twitter). "I applaud @POTUS for taking this significant step to provide relief for so many immigrant families. We must keep working to pass comprehensive immigration reform to fix this broken system once & for all."

"This is about keeping families together and ending cruel practices that have longtime residents living in constant fear of deportation," Cardin said on X. "As a nation that has built its identity on welcoming immigrants, this is the right move."

Martinez Hernandez was arrested last week

Hernandez, who is suspected of brutally killing and raping Morin close to a well-known hiking trail in Maryland last year, was apprehended by police last week at a bar in Tulsa, Oklahoma, thanks to DNA evidence and a tip.

Other Maryland officials have called for increased border security following the arrest of Hernandez, who is wanted in his home country of El Salvador for a supposedly related crime.

Investigator in Rachel Morin's murder says US has a 'porous border'

"He tried to come in legally and he was turned away. And yeah, that didn't deter him because we have such a porous border and he came right through… and this is the result," Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler, who helped lead the investigation into Morin's murder, told Fox News.

"It's just insane that we would allow things like Rachel's murder to happen, and when I say ‘allow it,’ we allowed it by letting him into this country unchallenged," Gahler added. "That shouldn't happen to families in our country. This is preventable."

Internet shreds Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin for backing Joe Biden's border policies

Netizens lambasted the Democrat senators for still supporting the POTUS' border policies despite the rise of crimes in the country committed by illegal immigrants.

One X user wrote, "I am heartbroken and angry about this tragic incident. Losing a mother is unspeakably painful, especially under such horrific circumstances. We hope the government can take effective measures to prevent similar tragedies from happening again."

Another tweeted, "Of course they do. Dems like to give a lot of lip-service to caring about women but when it comes to brass tacks they just mean they care about abortion."

"Typical politicians. Crying crocodile tears for their constituents while backing policies that put more lives at risk. 'Compassion' only goes so far, it seems," added one user.

"Fake political tears," echoed one while another chimed in, "After all it wasn’t one of their family members."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.