DONALD Trump is planning to suspend habeas corpus to crack down on illegal immigration in the US, according to his top aide.
Stephen Miller, a top adviser at the White House, mentioned that the administration is exploring methods to broaden its legal authority to deport individuals residing in the country without authorization.
He said that the president was “actively looking at” suspending habeas corpus as part of the administration’s immigration crackdown.
During a press conference, Miller stated: “The Constitution is explicit, and it serves as the ultimate law, allowing the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus during an invasion,” he remarked to reporters.
“So it’s an option that we’re actively looking at.”
He added that a lot of it depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not.
Habeas corpus refers to a person’s right to challenge their detention in court.
It has been a major avenue for migrants to legally challenge their deportations under the Alien Enemies Act.
Trump’s day-one immigration executive order allows federal agents to arrest and remove any individual lacking legal documentation.
He also signed a directive to end birthright citizenship – when a person born on US soil is given American citizenship.
And he closed down a Biden-era Customs and Border Protection app that gave migrants the chance to apply to legally enter the US by seeking asylum.
Trump’s crackdown on immigration
Since January 20, Trump has initiated several actions to curb migration, such as introducing a comprehensive asylum ban for those stopped at the southern border and shutting down some lawful opportunities for migrants to lawfully enter the United States.
The abrupt termination of one such humanitarian parole program, known as CBP One, left thousands of migrants from around the world suddenly stranded in Mexico with few, if any, legal pathways to reach the U.S.
About 20 migrants in Mexico told Reuters that since CBP One ended on January 20 they’ve sought to return to their home countries, but lack the money or documents to do so. Some don’t have valid passports, required for boarding international flights.
Many migrants fear staying in Mexico due to the risks of assault, kidnapping, and extortion by powerful organized crime groups that prey on migrants.
It comes after Trump flaunted his administration’s success with its crackdown on illegal immigration using lawn signs of reported arrested criminals.
Photos of a lengthy line of signs placed along the White House lawn on Monday morning caused quite a stir ahead of a celebratory press conference where the new admin’s success was revealed.
“And they say yard signs don’t win elections…” Trump official Kaelan Dorr wrote in reaction to the yard signs on X.
The signs included the faces of some of the worst criminals that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents arrested during Trump’s first 100 days in office, a White House official told the New York Post.
The signs included a photo of the alleged offenders along with the word “arrested” and the type of crime they were accused of.
Some of the crimes included murder, rape, and sexual assault of a child.
The lawn display came as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan celebrated the administration’s accomplishments as they near 100 days in office.
Leavitt told reporters Monday morning that attempted illegal crossings into the US at the southern border hit record lows in February and March.
She said that US Border Patrol encountered just over 7,000 illegal immigrants this past March.
This is a 95% decrease from the 140,000 illegal immigrants that border agents encountered in March 2024 when former President Joe Biden was in office, according to Leavitt.
Leavitt said the Trump administration is “working 24/7 to successfully arrest and deport” criminals living in the US illegally.
The spokeswoman added that nearly 800 illegal immigrants were arrested during a massive four-day ICE raid in Florida a couple weeks ago.
