President Donald Trump stirred controversy on Monday by proposing the deportation of American citizens deemed violent criminals, sparking concerns in legal and human rights circles due to potential constitutional conflicts. During a meeting in the Oval Office with El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele, Trump remarked, "I'd like to take it a step further. I told Pam [Bondi, Attorney General], I'm not sure what the laws are, we always have to follow the laws, but we also have homegrown criminals who push people in the subway, who hit elderly women on the back of the head with a baseball bat when they're not looking, who are absolute monsters."
The president noted that Attorney General Pam Bondi is "investigating" the legal feasibility of such a measure. Experts, as reported by CNN, argue that this notion would directly violate the constitutional rights of American citizens, who are protected against expulsion from their own country.
The idea was presented in the context of bilateral cooperation with El Salvador in accepting deportees. "I'd like to include them in the group of people to remove from the country, but you'll have to be looking at the laws about it, Steve, okay?" Trump added, addressing his advisor Stephen Miller.
Trump's argument centers on his belief that American criminals should not be treated differently than immigrant criminals. "Why do you think they are a special category of people? They're as bad as anyone who comes in," he stated.
This is not the first time the president has raised this intention; he did so in late January, shortly after assuming office, suggesting that a country willing to accept American criminals would be compensated.
Mass Deportations and Salvadoran Prisons
The statements on Monday were made within the framework of a broader alliance with Bukele's government, through which El Salvador agrees to receive deportees from the United States, regardless of their nationality. Trump praised the Salvadoran leader's tough approach, claiming it allows the U.S. to operate "with less money and with great security." He also disclosed having personally asked Bukele to expand his prison facilities.
White House Deputy Secretary Stephen Miller emphasized this stance by asserting that there is "no upper limit" on deportations under the agreement, and they will continue to send "foreign terrorists" and alleged gang members like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua to the Center for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT) in El Salvador.
Key Questions on Trump's Deportation Proposal
Is it constitutional to deport U.S. citizens?
Deporting U.S. citizens would likely violate constitutional rights, as citizens have the right to remain in their own country without fear of expulsion.
What is the legal basis for Trump's proposal?
The legal basis for the proposal remains unclear, as U.S. laws protect citizens from deportation. Attorney General Pam Bondi is reportedly examining the legal feasibility of such measures.
How does Trump's proposal relate to his agreement with El Salvador?
The proposal aligns with a broader agreement with El Salvador to accept deportees from the U.S., with Trump advocating for similar treatment of U.S. criminals and immigrant criminals.