Media Research Center Reports 506 Mischaracterizations of Abrego Garcia as 'Maryland Man'

Multiple analyses have found that CNN and MSNBC repeatedly referred to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported Salvadoran illegal immigrant, as a 'Maryland man' or similar terms in hundreds of reports, while rarely acknowledging his illegal status or Salvadoran origin. Media Research Center’s studies show that over a three-week period, the networks used the 'Maryland man' descriptor 506 times, mentioning his illegal status or Salvadoran nationality in less than a third of reports. Critics argue this language downplays his immigration background and fits a coordinated narrative, allegedly to evoke sympathy and align with Democratic immigration policies. Furthermore, both networks were found to have largely ignored new allegations against Garcia, including a past protective order and human trafficking suspicions. Coverage of other cases, such as the trial of another Salvadoran illegal immigrant convicted of a violent crime, was also notably absent. This pattern has drawn accusations of journalistic bias and selective reporting.