President Trump voiced doubts about strictly adhering to the Constitution in deportation cases and suggested directions for administrative lawyers on how to proceed.
In a conversation with Kristen Welker from NBC News on “Meet the Press,” which aired on Sunday, Trump mentioned being “dependent” on Attorney General Pam Bondi.
When asked about his obligation to uphold the Constitution in deportation matters, Trump responded, “I don’t know. There are great lawyers working for me who will certainly follow what the Supreme Court has stated.”
Welker referenced Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s previous comments, where Rubio stated that both citizens and non-citizens deserve a fair process. Trump affirmed, “Yes, of course,” in agreement.
After referencing the Fifth Amendment, Welker pressed him further.
Trump replied, “I don’t really know. That might be the case, but if we’re talking about it, we’d have to do millions of checks.” He emphasized that he was elected to handle “dangerous” individuals, but felt that the courts were hindering his efforts.
In a separate interview at Mar-a-Lago on Friday, Trump reiterated his belief that he could facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return. Garcia had entered the U.S. without permission years earlier and was deported back to a notorious prison in El Salvador. The administration acknowledged that sending him there was a mistake but later intensified his deportation, alleging gang affiliation with MS-13.
Garcia’s family has opposed this decision, and Democrats have urged Trump to allow Garcia to return to the U.S. and secure his rights to a fair trial.
Trump’s assertion about facilitating Garcia’s return appeared to conflict with claims that the Justice Department lacked the authority to do so.
“If the Attorney General says he can come back, then the power lies with him,” Trump commented during the interview. He also stated, “Ultimately, the decision rests with the leader of El Salvador, who I believe is quite capable.”
Trump mentioned to Welker that he might seek clarification from the Supreme Court regarding the implications of the term “promote” and what actions his administration needs to undertake, but he refrained from revealing any discussions with El Salvador about Garcia’s potential return.
