On Monday, along the perimeter bordering the North Lawn of the White House, some 100 mug shots were posted that the federal administration says show criminal illegal immigrants who have been charged with murder, kidnapping, child sexual assault and rape.
The mug shots were posted for the benefit of various cameras outside the North Lawn, to flaunt the success of the restrictive policies adopted against illegal immigrants, on the occasion of President Trump’s 100th day in the White House.
“If you’re an illegal alien in the United States, this message is for you. You cannot hide from ICE. We are actively looking for you,” said Tom Homan, the federal administration’s border czar.
“We will hunt you down,” the White House X account later announced, “You will face justice. You will be deported — and you will never set foot on American soil again.”
Over the weekend, Homan had extolled the government’s success at curbing illegal crossings, saying that the administration “got the most secure border in the history of this nation, and President Trump was able to accomplish that in seven weeks.” He added that about 139,000 people have been deported so far.
However, at the same time, the federal government has been harshly criticized in recent months for its handling of some arrests, particularly after it invoked the controversial Alien Enemies Act to deport immigrants suspected of being gang members, to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador without due process.
The White House on the other hand, falsely claims that it is ensuring all due process and that it is being obstructed by politically motivated magistrates who are abusing their power.
U.S. District Judge David Briones of El Paso, Texas, temporarily halted deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. In his ruling he wrote that “due process requirements for the removal of noncitizens are long established” under the Immigration and Nationality Act as well as previous U.S. Supreme Court rulings.
Over the weekend, however, after a new raid in Colorado, Trump stated: “If we don’t win this battle at the Supreme Court, our Country, as we know it, is FINISHED! It will be a Crime ridden MESS. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”.
