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A controversial proposal by Donald Trump has drawn sharp criticism from constitutional scholars, legal analysts, and civil rights advocates after he suggested that U.S. citizens convicted of crimes should be deported to foreign countries, including El Salvador. The idea, mentioned during a recent meeting with El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, has been widely condemned as unconstitutional and without legal basis under existing immigration law.

Trump, during his remarks, focused on individuals who have committed violent crimes on American soil, referring to them as “homegrown criminals” responsible for unprovoked attacks and disturbing street violence. He raised the possibility of removing such offenders from the United States altogether, despite their status as American citizens. Trump’s statements have sparked concerns among legal experts about the implications for constitutional protections and the scope of executive authority.

A spokesperson aligned with Trump’s agenda, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed the idea is under exploration, citing interest in deporting particularly violent offenders if a lawful pathway can be identified. However, immigration attorneys and constitutional law professors across the country argue there is no such lawful pathway when it comes to American citizens. U.S. deportation law applies solely to non-citizens, and removing citizens from the country would violate core constitutional guarantees, including due process and the fundamental right to reside in one’s own country.

Citizenship in the United States is protected under the Constitution and cannot be revoked or challenged arbitrarily. Legal precedent only allows for the revocation of citizenship in extremely limited cases, typically when it has been fraudulently obtained. Even in those instances, the process is lengthy and subject to multiple levels of legal scrutiny. Attempting to strip or ignore those protections without due process would, according to experts, violate long-standing legal doctrines.

During the White House meeting with Bukele, Trump mentioned that Attorney General Pam Bondi was reviewing the legal feasibility of the proposal. However, neither the Justice Department nor Trump’s team has provided any additional details regarding the scope of the plan or its intended legal framework. It also remains unclear whether this concept would apply solely to naturalized citizens or include individuals born in the United States.

Legal scholars have been swift and unified in their opposition. Ilya Somin, a constitutional law professor at George Mason University, declared the plan clearly unconstitutional, pointing out that U.S. immigration law does not—and cannot—permit the deportation of American citizens. Emma Winger, a senior attorney with the American Immigration Council, stated that the proposal contradicts the very definition of U.S. citizenship and endangers basic civil rights.

Anthony Kreis, a law professor at Georgia State University, contextualized the proposal historically, drawing parallels to colonial-era policies by the British Crown that were among the catalysts of the American Revolution. He warned that using executive authority to exile citizens would represent a reversal of centuries of constitutional progress.

David Bier, an immigration policy analyst with the Cato Institute, further criticized the notion, warning that the plan resembles “extrajudicial imprisonment by foreign proxy.” He emphasized that the U.S. government cannot outsource incarceration of its own citizens to foreign countries, especially without legal proceedings and protections.

The proposal, although not yet formalized into policy, has generated intense concern due to its potential human rights consequences. Critics fear that a framework like this could be used to detain and exile individuals based on vague or politically motivated criteria. Without judicial oversight, it could lead to abuses and the erosion of legal protections guaranteed to every American citizen.

Concerns also arise from the conditions in El Salvador, the nation referenced in the proposal. The country’s prison system has long been criticized by international observers for overcrowding and human rights violations. Deporting individuals—citizens or otherwise—into such an environment without due process could result in severe humanitarian issues and international legal violations.

This renewed debate over the limits of executive authority touches on broader themes of public safety, constitutional rights, and campaign rhetoric. While Trump has consistently positioned himself as tough on crime and immigration, experts argue that any proposed solutions must remain within the bounds of U.S. law and constitutional principles. Overstepping those bounds, they warn, undermines not only individual rights but the entire legal system underpinning American democracy.

As the political climate heats up, this proposal appears to serve more as a rallying cry than a feasible policy initiative. Nonetheless, the very suggestion of deporting citizens—once considered unthinkable—has brought urgent attention to the fragile balance between national security and constitutional law.

In the absence of official policy drafts or legal memos, legal professionals continue to caution that any effort to deport citizens would be met with immediate and overwhelming legal challenges. Courts would almost certainly strike down such actions as unconstitutional, and civil liberties groups would mobilize rapidly to protect affected individuals.

While Trump’s plan may never come to fruition, its mere mention has ignited a necessary conversation about the enduring strength of citizenship, the inviolability of legal rights, and the vital need for government restraint—even amid legitimate concerns about public safety. At its core, the proposal tests not only the limits of law but also the resilience of American democratic values.