Watchdog Calls Out Network Coverage of 'Maryland Man'

The Media Research Center (MRC), a conservative media watchdog, released a report analyzing broadcast network coverage of two immigration-related stories between April 1 and April 15, 2025. 

The report specifically compares airtime given to the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, referred to as the "Maryland man" wrongly deported to El Salvador, with the trial of Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, an illegal immigrant convicted of murdering Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five. 

Key Findings of the MRC Report:

• Coverage of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s Deportation:The MRC found that ABC, CBS, and NBC collectively devoted 64 minutes and 57 seconds to the story of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant deported to El Salvador’s CECOT mega-prison in March 2025 due to an “administrative error” by the Trump administration.
• The coverage focused on Garcia’s wrongful deportation, despite a 2019 court order granting him protection from removal to El Salvador. Networks emphasized the Supreme Court’s ruling that the government must “facilitate” his return, the legal battle, and Democratic efforts, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s trip to El Salvador, to secure his release.
• The report notes that Garcia was often portrayed sympathetically as a “Maryland man” with a U.S. citizen wife and child, with less attention to allegations of his MS-13 gang ties, which the Trump administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have claimed but not substantiated in court.

Coverage of Rachel Morin’s Killer’s Trial:

• In contrast, the MRC reported that the same networks—ABC, CBS, and NBC—provided zero seconds of airtime to the trial of Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador convicted of raping and murdering Rachel Morin in August 2023.
• Morin’s case, which involved a brutal attack on a Maryland trail, received significant attention from conservative outlets and was cited by Trump supporters as evidence of the dangers posed by illegal immigration. The lack of network coverage was particularly criticized by Morin’s mother, Patty Morin, who noted the networks’ silence while Sen. Van Hollen used taxpayer funds to advocate for Garcia.

The MRC, known for its conservative leanings, argues that the stark contrast in coverage reflects a liberal bias in broadcast media.