Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky stated over the weekend that he is in opposition to any and all parts of President-elect Donald Trump’s deportation plan that requires the use of military force. In fact, he’s so dead set against it that he’s threatened not to vote in favor of the operation if those parts aren’t changed.
“You know, I’m 100 percent supportive of going after the 15,000 murderers, the 13,000 sexual assault perpetrators, rapists, all these people. Let’s send them on their way to prison or back home to another prison,” Paul went on to say on Sunday during an appearance on CBS News program “Face the Nation,” according to a video clip posted to X. The clip is now going viral. And you can guarantee this is not going to sit well with MAGA folk. And who can blame them? We’ve had this massive invasion happening for years and no one has done anything to stop it. In fact, the Biden-Harris administration likely allowed it to continue on purpose.
“But you don’t do it with the Army because it’s illegal,” he commented during the show. “We’ve, we’ve had a distrust of putting the army into our streets, because the police have a difficult job but the police understand the Fourth Amendment.”
Paul clarified during the segment he’s in favor of mass deportation, but not in the use of military force to get the job done.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) says he supports President-elect Donald Trump's plan for mass deportations, but not his suggestion of using the military for it, "because it's illegal."
"We've had a distrust of putting the army into our streets," he says, calling for deportations "through… pic.twitter.com/WUms7FSu66
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) November 24, 2024
According to The Western Journal, Paul said that Trump’s deportations need to be targeted and follow a specific process. I get it. He’s trying to ensure illegal actions aren’t taken that could end up backfiring on the Trump administration and sabotage future victories for the GOP.
“They have to go to Judges. They have to get warrants. It has to be specific. And so I’m for removing these people, but I would do it through the normal process of domestic policing,” he stated.
Paul was asked if his opposition to the army being used would translate into opposing the nomination of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security. “I will not support and will not vote to use the military in our cities. I think it’s a terrible image,” he reiterated.
“But I will tell you, but just in the last week, with the belief that a new administration will change things, there were four or five criminals arrested in the last week. And what would happen, and I think what will happen under Donald Trump’s administration is, I don’t recommend to use the army, but I would use the FBI, I would use ICE, I would use Border Patrol,” he said, estimating about 30,000 dangerous illegal immigrants are in the country now who deserve to be deported.
“That should be the first priority for all of this. Let’s go find those people. But it’s not about detaining them, in all likelihood, they should be going to a jail, either a jail here or in the country they came from. So I think if we did that, there will be a lot of unity,” Paul said.
“If they send the army into New York, and you have 10,000 troops marching carrying semi automatic weapons, I think it’s a terrible image, and I will oppose that. But it’s not that I oppose removing [illegal immigrants],” the Kentucky Republican said.
I see where he’s coming from and he does have a legitimate point. However, let’s hope things are worked out in the logistical department for this plan to be put in action so we can get illegal migrants out of here and back in their countries of origin.
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