Trump says will deport migrants using local police if elected
3 Min Read
Donald Trump vows to launch the "largest deportation operation in American history," during a statement he gave while visiting the US-Mexico border the same day as President Joe Biden's visit.
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Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump talks with Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer, Adjutant General for the State of Texas, during a visit to the US-Mexico border in Texas. (AP)
During an interview with Fox News' "Hannity", former US president and GOP frontrunner Donald Trump declared that he will deploy local police to enforce mass deportation of undocumented migrants if he's elected.
He vowed to launch the "largest deportation operation in American history," during a statement he gave while visiting the US-Mexico border the same day as President Joe Biden's visit.
"We have to deport a lot of people, and they have to start immediately," he said, adding that he would provide "immunity" to police "to give the job they have to do," as the officers would know who the migrants are.
"It's going to be the local police that are going to turn them over, and we're going to have to move them back to their country," he continued.
Tensions between Texan and US authorities have been on the rise as of late, especially since a Supreme Court ruling on January 22 allowed federal agents to remove razor wire placed along the border.
Despite the legal ruling, Texas remains committed to increasing border security measures, with state Governor Greg Abbott declaring that Texas is confronting an "invasion" and cited the state's "constitutional authority to defend and protect itself." These developments have fueled speculation about the possibility of Texas becoming an independent state.
Read more: Migrant crisis pushing Texans to consider 'Texit': Newsweek
Trump: Biden has 'innocent blood' on hands
In an interview with Fox News' The Story with Martha MacCallum in January, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said that the state will continue to install razor wire along the US-Mexico border.
"We are putting up wire ... everywhere we can. We will continue. We will not stop. If they cut it, we will replace it," Patrick said.
This comes as a judge temporarily suspended a Texas law on Thursday that would give local authorities and judges the authority to arrest and deport immigrants they suspect of crossing illegally.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott vowed to appeal it.
According to Trump, Biden has the "blood of countless innocent victims" on his hands as he argued that the US was being "overrun by the Biden migrant crime."
Abbott has been involved in a prolonged legal dispute with the Biden Justice Department regarding Texas' initiatives to "curb illegal immigration" into the United States. The tensions escalated with a recent Supreme Court decision permitting federal Border Patrol agents to dismantle razor wire installed along the US-Mexico border by Texas authorities. In response to the ruling, Abbott asserted that Biden had "refused to enforce [immigration] laws and has even violated them.”
