President Donald Trump has once again sparked outrage after floating the idea of deporting U.S. citizens who commit crimes.
Speaking at the controversial ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ deportation facility in Florida, which he toured with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday, he suggested that the move could be next on his list.
Highlights
- Trump suggested deporting U.S. citizens who commit crimes, sparking widespread outrage over the unconstitutional proposal.
- At a Florida facility tour, Trump labeled some criminals as 'old to our country,' including those born in the U.S.
- Trump previously proposed deporting 'homegrown' criminals to El Salvador’s harsh CECOT prison during a meeting with its president.
- Legal experts said deporting U.S. citizens is unconstitutional and violates their fundamental rights.
- Online backlash surged, with critics calling Trump’s ideas a violation of constitutional oaths and describing them as 'white nationalist fantasy.'
He told reporters that there were “bad criminals” who had come into the country “stupidly” under former President Joe Biden, referencing potential “autopen” use.
Donald Trump has once again floated the idea of deporting U.S. citizens
Image credits: The White House
He said there were criminals who had been in the U.S. for a long time, as well as those born in the country.
“But we also have a lot of bad people that have been here for a long time,” Trump said.
“People that whack people over the head with a baseball bat from behind when they’re not looking and kill them. People that knife you when you’re walking down the street.
“They’re not new to our country, they’re old to our country. Many of them were born in our country.”
“I think we oughta get them the hell outta here, too, if you wanna know the truth,” he continued.
“So maybe that’ll be the next job that we’ll work on together.”
The comments were not the first time Trump has suggested deporting U.S. citizens to other countries for committing crimes.
At a White House meeting with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele in April, Trump suggested he wanted to deport “homegrown” criminals to the country’s notorious CECOT prison.
He has already deported hundreds of alleged gang members to the supermax facility, which is known for its harsh conditions and no visitation rights.
Image credits: Josue Decavele/Getty Images
“If it’s a homegrown criminal, I have no problem,” Trump told reporters at the meeting.
“If we can do that, that’s good. And I’m talking about violent people. I’m talking about really bad people. Really bad people. Every bit as bad as the ones coming in.”
Before reporters entered the room, Trump even suggested to Bukele that CECOT isn’t “big enough” for the “homegrowns” from the U.S., so he should build more prisons, ABC News reported.
While the matter has not come before the courts yet, legal experts say it would be unconstitutional.
“I don’t think that any president who understands the rule of law or who respects the constitutional democracy that we live in would even think in these terms," David Leopold, an attorney and former president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, told ABC News in April.
Trump previously said he would like to send ‘homegrowns’ to El Salvador
Image credits: David Ryder/Getty Images
“The United States is the home of United States citizens. And citizens cannot be deported, period,” he said.
Trump’s latest comments garnered thousands of reactions online, with users on several social media platforms expressing their outrage at his potential plans.
“Perhaps he should start with himself. The son of immigrants, with a long record of questionable conduct, who narrowly avoided prison by posting bail and getting himself elected president,” one user wrote.
“If we’re deporting ‘bad people,’ why not begin with the most prominent case?”
“The second he attempts this, he goes directly against his constitutional oath and should be removed from office,” another added. “As should any politician or judge that backs him on this.”
Image credits: Alex Peña/Getty Images
“Trump has officially lost the plot,” a netizen posted. “He wants to deport U.S. citizens – people born in the US – just because he deems them ‘bad.’
“Where exactly do you deport someone who’s never lived anywhere else? Who has no other passport?
“This isn’t policy. It’s white nationalist fantasy. He won’t stop until he gets his version of ‘white America.’”
The latest backlash comes after a June 11 Department of Justice memo posted online said it would prioritize revoking the citizenship of naturalized citizens who had committed certain crimes, ABC News reports.
Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate said there would be wide discretion for U.S. attorneys to pursue cases that “advance the Administration’s policy objectives.”
This includes pursuing people who have engaged in torture, war crimes, human trafficking, and human rights violations, according to the memo.