Trump Turns the Tables on Reporter Questioning Authority to Deport Illegals [WATCH]

In a tense moment during a Friday press conference in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump pushed back against a reporter’s question, challenging the legal standing of Joe Biden’s immigration policies, particularly those allowing a high number of migrants to enter the United States.

Trump’s comments came in the context of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to curb illegal immigration, including through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and continued mass deportations.

The president pointed out that the number of migrant crossings had dramatically decreased in February, reaching their lowest levels in decades.

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During the exchange, a reporter questioned the president, asking whether he believed the administration had the authority to round up individuals, deport them, and not be required to present evidence in court.

“That’s what the law says, and that’s what our country needs because … unfortunately, they allowed millions of people to come into our country. Totally unvetted, totally unchecked,” Trump responded, referring to the Biden-Harris administration’s approach to border security.

“So you ought to ask, ‘Did he have the authority to allow millions of people?’ Did Biden have the authority to do something that’s unthinkable, have open borders where millions of people poured into our country, totally unvetted and totally unchecked, just as you would say.”

Trump further criticized the influx of migrants under the Biden-Harris administration, stating that many of these individuals were criminals.

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“Many of those people were criminals,” he said.

“Many of them were from jails and prisons and mental institutions and gang members and drug dealers and very dangerous people. Many were murderers. We have 11,088 that we know of murderers. They murdered. Of that number, at least half killed more than one person.”

The president added, “So, when you asked me if we have the authority, did Biden have the authority to allow millions of people to come into our country? Many of these people are hardened criminals at the top of the line who have caused tremendous damage.”

REPORTER: Do you think you have the power to arrest illegal immigrant criminals and deport them?@POTUS: That’s what the law says. You should be asking, ‘Did Biden have the authority to open the border and let millions of totally unvetted people into our country?’ pic.twitter.com/VnwlLvCGiJ

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 21, 2025

The debate over immigration policy comes amid ongoing legal challenges faced by the administration, including actions involving the Alien Enemies Act, which President Trump invoked against members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

The gang has been designated a foreign terrorist organization, leading to legal action by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

The ACLU argues that Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act is an unlawful and unprecedented action, according to the organization’s website.

The legal battle has intensified, especially after U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg temporarily blocked the use of the Alien Enemies Act, though the case continues to unfold in court.

James Rogers, Senior Counsel for America First Legal, weighed in on the controversy, stating, “What the ACLU is seeking in this case is unprecedented — that a single unelected judge take upon himself the authority to micromanage the national defense of our nation. This would be a complete corruption of the principle of separation of powers, which is a bedrock feature of our Republic enshrined in the Constitution.”

In response to the surge in migrant encounters under the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of Homeland Security under President Trump has made significant changes.

The administration replaced the CBP One app, which allowed individuals crossing the border to apply for asylum, with the new CBP Home app designed to assist migrants in self-deporting.

The debate over the Biden-Harris administration’s border policies and the Trump administration’s ongoing legal and regulatory efforts to address immigration continues to be a focal point in American politics as the country grapples with the consequences of its border security strategies.

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