Trump Under Fire for Defiant Immigration Push That Critics Say Shreds the Constitution
Former President Donald Trump is facing mounting backlash after making incendiary remarks on his Truth Social platform, where he appeared to dismiss constitutional protections in defense of his aggressive immigration agenda. Civil rights advocates and legal experts are sounding the alarm, warning that his rhetoric and actions may directly violate the U.S. Constitution.
Trump Revives 18th-Century Law to Justify Mass Deportations
In a bold and highly controversial move, Trump is invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798—a wartime relic last notably used during the internment of Japanese Americans in World War II—to carry out mass deportations of non-citizens. The rarely used law permits the government to detain or deport nationals from hostile nations during periods of conflict.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court conditionally approved Trump’s use of the statute, giving him a powerful legal tool to sidestep traditional immigration courts. Under this framework, individuals accused of gang affiliation—such as those linked to MS-13 or Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua—can be deported without the usual due process, sparking serious concerns over human rights violations.
Trump’s Comments Spark Outrage Over Constitutional Protections
Although the Supreme Court emphasized that deportees must still be granted the chance to challenge their removal, Trump seemed to brush that aside. In a post on Truth Social, he declared:
“We cannot give everyone a trial. Such a thing is not possible to do. If we don’t act quickly, we’re not going to have a country anymore.”
Legal scholars say the statement flies in the face of the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees due process to all persons—citizens and non-citizens alike—before life, liberty, or property can be taken away.
Legal Experts Accuse Trump of Undermining His Oath of Office
On Reddit’s legal forums and elsewhere, constitutional analysts argue that Trump’s dismissal of due process violates his presidential oath—the one that swears to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
“A president cannot simply sidestep constitutional rights to speed up policy,” one legal commentator wrote. “This sets a chilling precedent and raises serious questions about impeachment.”
Deportations Surge Amid Legal and Ethical Objections
Despite legal pushback, Trump’s policy is already in motion. At least 261 people have been deported, many accused of gang affiliations, with some being sent to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT mega-prison—even after a lower court tried to halt their removal.
Trump doubled down in a recent post, claiming his administration is being “sabotaged” by courts and praised Justice Samuel Alito for backing his hardline stance. He ended the statement with his familiar refrain:
“MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”