White House video showing shackled deportees sparks outrage
2 Min Read
Authorities estimate that around 11 million undocumented people are living in the US, and Trump's deportation plan is expected to affect approximately 20 million families.
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An Enforcement and Removal Operations police officer stands on the tarmac as a deportation flight takes place (X screengrab)
The White House has published a contentious video depicting illegal migrants in handcuffs being prepped for deportation.
The video, uploaded on X on Tuesday and then reposted by Elon Musk with the remark "Haha, wow," provoked fury online.
One person remarked, "This is disgusting, and you should be ashamed of yourselves," while another X user called it "so out of touch and disgusting," citing impending doom in the country.
ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight 🔊 pic.twitter.com/O6L1iYt9b4
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 18, 2025
The 41-second video shows an officer strapping a man in handcuffs before boarding a deportation flight. Then, the camera goes over a set of handcuffs and chains lying on the airport tarmac, as another cop removes shackles from a basket.
US President Donald Trump previously relayed his intentions to significantly intensify immigration enforcement nationwide. Deportations began in late January, and the launch of immigration raids in the United States has led to a noticeable decline in activity at construction sites, shopping centers, and other locations commonly visited by undocumented immigrants.
Authorities estimate that around 11 million undocumented people are living in the US, and Trump's deportation plan is expected to affect approximately 20 million families.
While the US government has faced ongoing challenges in managing its southern border, Trump has intensified fears by describing the migrant flow as an "invasion" and claiming that migrants pose a threat to Americans' safety, accusing them of violence and crime.
Throughout his campaign, Trump repeatedly attacked undocumented immigrants, using inflammatory language and distorting immigration statistics to stir up fear.
