President Donald Trump floated the idea of deporting criminals even if they are U.S.-born citizens.
"We have a lot of bad criminals that came into this country," Trump told press from Ochopee, Florida. "But we also have a lot of bad people that have been here for a long time."
Trump calls for deporting US citizens: "We also have a lot of bad people that have been here for a long time ... many of them were born in our country. I think we ought to get them the hell out of here too, if you want to know the truth. So maybe that'll be the next job." pic.twitter.com/zQDOlqjB3u
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 1, 2025
"They're not new to our country, they're old to our country. Many of them were born in our country," he continued. "I think we ought to get them the hell out of here too."
Trump's remarks came on the heels of his visit to a new "Alligator Alcatraz" detention facility in the Florida Everglades — itself already the focus of human rights criticism. Surrounded by alligator and python-infested swampland, FEMA funds are being redirected to set up tents and portable bathrooms that will constitute the initial camp to hold migrants detained by ICE.
While Alligator Alcatraz was in its early development stages last week, Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trump administration and blocked the ability of lower courts to issue universal injunctions. The case was based on lawsuits from lower courts that blocked an executive order from Trump ending birthright citizenship. The court did not consider the legality of the executive order itself — which violates the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution — but instead considered whether federal courts should have the power to freeze an executive action nationwide.
As a result of the court's decision to rescind universal injunctions, the executive branch will have the power to implement executive orders unless the Supreme Court rules otherwise.
Trump said on Tuesday that "the next chapter" could be a push to deport criminal American citizens. "It's a little controversial," he acknowledged. "But I couldn't care less."
"People that whack people over the head with a baseball bat... people that knife you when you're walking down the street," Trump said, referring to violent U.S.-born offenders. "We have some very bad. We had some bad accidents in New York, and they're not accidents."
Originally published on Latin Times
