The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated that his administration has achieved "the best border we have ever had" and that the country "is doing very well" in its fight against illegal immigration.
The statements were made during an interview with Kristen Welker, the moderator of the program Meet the Press, where the president boasted about the alleged results of his immigration policy and intensified his rhetoric against migrants.
Trump reiterated that his administration has achieved unprecedented progress in border control. "We are doing very well with illegal immigration," he stated, asserting that the United States now has "the safest border we have ever had."
According to the president, these results are a direct outcome of his leadership, despite what he deemed as judicial obstacles. “One of the main reasons I was elected was to remove from our country the people who were allowed [to enter]. We have prisoners. We have murderers. We have terrorists in our country,” he stated, without providing concrete evidence to support his claims.
During the interview, Trump openly criticized the role of the judicial system, particularly in relation to the restrictions on deportations. He pointed out that the “greatest emergency” is no longer the border itself, but that “the courts do not allow us to expel people”.
He even questioned the constitutional principle of due process. “We have thousands of people, some of whom are murderers, some traffickers... And they elected me to get them out of here, and the courts are preventing me from doing so,” he said.
When asked directly if he respects the Constitution and the right to due process, he responded evasively: “I don’t know. I’m not a lawyer”.
In his words, Trump once again linked immigration to crime, a narrative that has been widely criticized by human rights organizations and analysts. He claimed that illegal immigrants are “killing, maiming, and harming our people,” and even stated that many come from prisons, psychiatric hospitals, and “asylums” in other countries. “And if we don't remove them, we won't have a country for much longer,” he declared.
Trump also claimed the construction of sections of the border wall during his first term, which he attributes to part of the current success. “We need walls. We need borders”, he insisted.
Regarding the Dreamers, young people brought illegally to the U.S. as minors, he ruled out that their regularization is a priority for his administration, blaming the Democrats for the lack of progress.
On completing the first 100 days in office on April 29, the Trump administration announced that it deported over 65,000 undocumented immigrants, most of whom were apprehended after crossing the southern border.
The president has publicly defended this type of operation as a “necessary response” to what he considers a national crisis.
Frequently asked questions about Donald Trump's immigration policies
What does Trump say about the security of the United States border?
Donald Trump claims that under his administration, the United States has the "safest border we have ever had". According to the president, this is the result of his immigration policies, despite the criticism and legal challenges he faces.
How does Trump respond to criticisms regarding due process in deportations?
During his statements, Trump questioned the constitutional principle of due process, suggesting that the judicial system hinders the swift removal of immigrants he deems dangerous. This stance has sparked criticism from human rights organizations and analysts.
What is Trump's stance on Dreamers and their legalization?
Trump has dismissed the regularization of Dreamers as a priority for his administration. He blames the Democrats for the lack of progress on this issue, maintaining his focus on the deportation of undocumented immigrants.
What measures has Trump taken to confront sanctuary jurisdictions?
Trump signed an executive order against sanctuary jurisdictions, directing the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security to compile a list of these areas. This reinforces his message that undocumented immigrants pose a threat to national security.
How does Trump's expedited deportation policy affect undocumented immigrants?
The accelerated deportation policy allows for the rapid expulsion of undocumented immigrants without going through the immigration court system. This measure has raised concerns among migrant communities due to the possibility of arbitrary detentions and the lack of opportunity to defend their cases.
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