United States president Donald Trump has 'floated' the idea of deporting 'violent' US criminals to a notorious prison, and the news his left people divided.
The 78-year-old Republican previously announced plans to embark on the 'largest deportation programme in history', vowing to deport 'maybe as many as 20 million' people.
"We will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came," he said at his inauguration back in January.
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Trump, the first convicted felon to serve in the presidential role, also elaborated by revealing that migrants accused of crimes would be the first targets of the policy.
But now, in the White House's latest update, Trump is said to be exploring legal pathways to 'deport' US citizens to El Salvador's mega-prison Cecot, which is known for its alleged human rights abuses.
In a press conference on Tuesday (8 April), White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt explained: "So the president has discussed this idea quite a few times publicly. He's also discussed it privately.
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"You're referring to the president's idea for American citizens to potentially be deported."
According to Leavitt, such individuals would be 'heinous, violent criminals who have broken our nation's laws repeatedly'.
"And these are violent repeat offenders in American streets," she continued.
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Leavitt outlined to reporters: "The president has said if it’s legal, right, if there is a legal pathway to do that. He’s not sure, [and] we are not sure if there is.
"It’s an idea that he has simply floated and has discussed very publicly in the effort of transparency."
Some die-hard MAGA heads saw no issues with the announcement, with one writing: "She did say if it was legal. The worst of the worst violent criminals. I gotta be honest here, if there is a legal way. I don’t see the issue. It’s not soccer moms & choir boys. And our prisons are overflowing. Perhaps it could help."
But others couldn't have disagreed more.
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A second social media user hit out: "This is absolutely insane."
"And he will be the decider of what is heinous. Which is basically disagreeing with him," declared a third, while a fourth slammed: "Where are they planning to send these American citizens.
"How is this idea even being entertained, this is ridiculous."
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Another lamented: "It’s unbelievable what America is turning into. Most of those people from El Salvador have no reason to even be there. This is starting to smell a lot like a totalitarian regime."
And a final social media user stressed: "Trump is now openly confirming that, yes, his government has and will deport US citizens. Every miserable a**hole who called me hysterical, fear mongering, liar etc. when I said this is happening should go eat sh*t.
"And if you come here to bleat that he says he’s only deporting US citizens who are 'criminals'.
"1) Ok, so you do admit Trump is deporting US citizens.
"2) Fine, then let me tell you *again* that the government can make ANYBODY a criminal by changing what and who is 'illegal'."
A move like this is expected to be challenged in court.
It is also not yet clear what legal authority could be used to justify expelling US citizens from their homeland.
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics, Crime, Twitter
Rhiannon Ingle