Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said in an interview Sunday that he opposes using the military for mass deportations.
“What we currently know about the immigration authorities responsible for rounding up these people is that there are only 6,000 officers capable of carrying out the task of rounding up potentially millions of illegal aliens; “We only have 41,000 beds. How do you propose to implement it?” CBS News' “Face the Nation” anchor Margaret Brennan asked Paul.
“And if this was a red line for you in terms of use of force, would you vote against Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem?” she added.
“I don't support the use of military in our cities and I won't vote for it. I think it's a terrible image,” Paul responded.
On Monday, President-elect Trump suggested his administration may use military assets to fulfill its promise of mass deportations.
President Trump replied, “It's true!!!” to society of truth Tom Fitton, president of the conservative group Judicial Watch, said in a post that the incoming administration is “ready to declare a national emergency and use military assets to reverse Biden's invasion through a mass deportation program. “I will.”
Caroline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump's transition team, also said the president-elect “is committed to launching the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug traffickers, and human traffickers in U.S. history while reducing costs for families.” “We will mobilize all necessary federal and state powers.”
During an appearance on “Face the Nation,” Paul said he “doesn't recommend using the military” to deport people, but “I would use the FBI, and I would.” [Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)]I would use the Border Patrol. ”
“If we were to send troops into New York and have 10,000 troops marching around with semi-automatic rifles, I think that's a terrible image and I'm against it. But I'm against removing people. “I'm not saying that,” Paul later said.
The Hill has reached out to Trump's transition team for comment.
