President Donald Trump's top immigration official said over the weekend that the administration's priority is to deport undocumented immigrants who are deemed a threat to national security. As VOA's Veronica Balderas Iglesias reports, Tom Homan added that illegal immigration in general will not be tolerated.
President Donald Trump's administration last week began deporting hundreds of immigrants who have committed criminal offenses and are in the United States illegally. However, the deportation of undocumented immigrants who have not committed criminal offenses is not out of the question, the top official on the issue, Tom Homan, said in an interview on ABC's "This Week."
"We are currently dealing with those who are a threat to public and national security. This is a smaller group. We will work according to a priority list, as President Trump promised. As this happens, there will be more arrests across the country," Mr. Homan says.
Last week, restrictions were lifted on federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) forces conducting raids on places like churches, schools and hospitals for undocumented immigrants. Mr. Homan said such arrests will be made on a case-by-case basis.
"If an individual who is assessed as a threat to national or public security is found inside one of these facilities then agents should have the right to make the arrest," says Mr. Homan.
The Trump administration's warnings and approach to immigration were criticized by Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin.
"I think this is more of a signal to convince people not to come to the border. The Trump administration is still in transition, between campaigning and governing," says Senator Slotkin.
The US military has been tasked by President Trump with securing the border. US military aircraft are already being used for deportations, but the military's role must remain consistent with the Constitution, Senator Slotkin stressed.
"According to the Constitution, the army can play a supporting, logistical role, build facilities near the border and other things. However, the army should not play the role of law enforcement," she says.
About 1,500 troops have been sent to the border with Mexico in the past week and the number could increase in the coming days. Mr. Homan said over the weekend that the presence of troops sends, as he put it, “a strong signal to the world that our border is closed.”/ VOA (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
