The president admitted that he’s unfamiliar with relevant U.S. laws, but he nevertheless “loves” the idea of locking up some American criminals abroad.
Trump continues to float the idea of foreign imprisonment of American criminals
flip.it/_a85CG
— (@gypsydaveh.bsky.social) 2025-04-07T23:50:17.793Z
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-continues-float-idea-foreign-imprisonment-american-criminals-rcna200092
When it comes to Donald Trump’s vision of mass deportations, there were some who assumed the president would focus on immigrants who committed violent crimes. Those assumptions were quickly discredited as the administration rounded up, among others, plenty of people who’ve never been convicted — or even accused of — committing a crime.
Similarly, many assumed the Republican’s deportation plan would focus on noncitizens. Those assumptions are in doubt, too. The Hill reported:
President Trump said Sunday he would “love” to send American inmates to El Salvador’s mega-prison but first needs to check if it’s legal. Speaking with reporters on Air Force One, Trump was asked whether he plans to discuss with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele his offer to take in and house American prisoners.
“
Well, I love that,” Trump said. “
If we could take some of our 20-time wise guys that push people into subways and that hit people over the back of the head and that purposely run people over in cars — if he would take them, I would be honored to give them.”
He went on to say,
“I don’t know what the law says on that, but I can’t imagine the law would say anything different.”.....
In January, roughly a week into his second term, the Republican made related comments,
suggesting that United States might be willing to pay a “small fee” to foreign countries to imprison American criminals.
He repeated the sentiment, using nearly identical phrasing, in early February.
In the latest iteration
, Trump said he “can’t imagine” this would be illegal. Presumably, administration attorneys will eventually explain otherwise that the limits of his imagination, coupled with his ignorance about legal limits, are a problem.
The next question, of course, would be whether the president would let legal limits stop him from doing what he apparently wants to do.
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