Rubio clashes with Van Hollen: "We deported gang members, including the one you had a margarita with!"

WASHINGTON — A heated exchange between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen took place during a hearing on Capitol Hill Tuesday.

The back-and-forth centered on the Trump Administration's handling of Kilmar Abrego-Garcia, an undocumented Salvadoran man deported by ICE in March.

Rubio and the federal government claim Garcia's a member of the murderous MS-13 gang.

"We deported gang members, gang members, including the one you had a margarita with," Rubio retorted when accosted by Van Hollen. "That guy is a human trafficker, and that guy is a gangbanger, and the evidence is going to be clear in the days to come."

"He can't make unsubstantiated comments like that," Van Hollen fired back. "Secretary Rubio should take that testimony to federal court of the United States, because he hasn't done it under oath."

Rubio's mention of a margarita appeared to be a dig at Van Hollen whose made it his personal mission to free Garcia.

In April, Van Hollen traveled to meet with Garcia in El Salvador.

A couple photos from the meeting emerged showing both men sitting at a table with drinks.

At the time, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele mocked the trip posting on X, "Kilmar Abrego-Garcia, miraculously risen from the “death camps” & “torture”, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!"

Van Hollen's visit also got the attention of the White House who asked, "Where was his concern for Maryland constituents put at risk by the many other illegal immigrants allowed to roam free until now?"

Those remarks were alluding to Rachel Morin and Kayla Hamilton, who were each murdered in Harford County by Salvadoran men illegally in the country.

Following Van Hollen's clash with Rubio, the White House called the Maryland Democrat "MS-13’s favorite U.S. Senator."

A local federal judge has since ordered the government to return Garcia to Maryland, but the feds have stood firm against it.

"No judge and the judicial branch cannot tell me or the President how to conduct foreign policy," Rubio told Van Hollen Tuesday. "No judge can tell me how I have to outreach to a foreign partner or what I need to say to them, and if I do reach out to that foreign partner and talk to them, I'm under no obligation to share that with the judiciary branch."

Van Hollen rebuked Rubio saying he regretted voting to confirm him as Secretary of State.

"Well, first of all, your regret for voting for me confirms I'm doing a good job," Rubio shot back.

Rubio previously served with Van Hollen in the Senate before being appointed to Trump's cabinet.

Garcia's case remains in litigation as the executive and judicial branches continue butting heads.

The courts say Garcia is owed due process, while the government claims he already was given immigration hearings a few years back.

Meanwhile, Trump and his allies have released various documents painting Garcia as a gang member with ties to human trafficking.

They've even revealed two separate protective order applications Garcia's wife filed against him in the past, alleging domestic violence.