President Donald Trump has consistently prioritized national security and the enforcement of immigration laws, particularly targeting illegal immigrants with criminal records. Despite leftist claims that deportations under his administration were cruel or unfair, the reality is that Trump simply enforced existing U.S. laws—many of which have been ignored by previous administrations. Among those laws is the clear-cut federal crime of illegal entry into the United States, a felony for repeat offenders, which many open-border advocates conveniently overlook.
Illegal Entry is a Crime, Not a Civil Offense
Under U.S. law, unlawful entry into the country is a crime. According to 8 U.S.C. § 1325, a first-time offense of illegal entry is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail. However, 8 U.S.C. § 1326 makes illegal reentry after deportation a felony, carrying penalties of up to 20 years in prison depending on prior criminal convictions (U.S. Department of Justice, 2023).
These are not arbitrary policies invented by Trump; they have been on the books for decades. The difference is that Trump enforced them, rather than allowing illegal immigration to spiral out of control as seen under the Biden administration.
Prioritizing the Deportation of Criminals
Trump’s immigration policies focused on removing illegal immigrants who had committed additional crimes beyond unlawful entry. According to ICE’s 2020 Enforcement and Removal Operations Report, the administration deported 185,884 illegal aliens, of whom 92% had criminal convictions or pending charges (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 2020).
Some of the major crimes committed by these deported individuals included:
Homicide – Over 1,900 illegal immigrants with homicide-related convictions were removed from the U.S.
Sexual Assault – More than 4,200 cases involved sexual assault or rape.
Drug and Firearm Offenses – Tens of thousands were deported for involvement in drug trafficking, illegal firearm possession, and related crimes.
These numbers highlight the necessity of enforcing immigration laws. When illegal immigrants with criminal records are allowed to remain in the country, they pose a direct threat to American citizens.
The Left’s Hypocrisy on Immigration Enforcement
Democrats and leftist activists claim that Trump’s policies were "inhumane" and "racist," yet these same individuals fail to acknowledge that Barack Obama was labeled the "Deporter-in-Chief" by pro-immigration groups for removing over three million illegal immigrants during his presidency (Migration Policy Institute, 2017). The real issue isn’t the enforcement of laws—it’s that Trump was unapologetic in doing so.
Conclusion: America First Means Enforcing Immigration Laws
President Trump’s immigration stance was not about race or xenophobia—it was about national security, public safety, and the rule of law. Every sovereign nation has the right and responsibility to control its borders and remove those who violate its laws. By deporting illegal criminals, Trump upheld his duty to protect American citizens, proving that strong leadership means enforcing the laws already in place.
References:
U.S. Department of Justice (2023). "8 U.S.C. § 1325 and 8 U.S.C. § 1326: Illegal Entry and Reentry."
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (2020). "Enforcement and Removal Operations Report."
Migration Policy Institute (2017). "U.S. Deportation Trends Under the Obama Administration."
No comments:
Post a Comment