Trump Doubles Down, Says He Wants To Deport ‘Homegrown’ American Criminals

Forbes - Apr 15th, 2025
Open on Forbes

President Donald Trump proposed the controversial idea of deporting American 'homegrown criminals' to El Salvador during an interview on Fox. This suggestion follows his discussions with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, who Trump praised for his assistance in deporting criminals and managing prisons. Trump expressed a desire to explore this concept further, despite legal experts stating that deporting U.S.-born citizens is unconstitutional and illegal. The proposal has sparked criticism and debate over its legality and ethical implications.

The context of this proposal includes a previous arrangement where over 200 Venezuelan immigrants were sent to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, a move that has already drawn significant criticism due to reported human rights violations and mistakes in deportation procedures. Legal experts and immigration authorities have pointed out that there is no legal framework in U.S. law permitting the deportation of native-born citizens, which highlights the implausibility and potential unlawfulness of Trump's idea. This development adds to the ongoing discourse on immigration policies during Trump's presidency and raises questions about the treatment and rights of both immigrants and citizens under U.S. law.

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RATING

5.2
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article presents a timely and controversial topic with significant public interest, focusing on President Trump's statements about deporting 'homegrown criminals' to El Salvador. While it captures attention and raises important legal and ethical questions, the story lacks detailed evidence and authoritative sources to fully support its claims. The balance is somewhat skewed towards Trump's perspective, with limited representation of affected individuals or human rights organizations. Clarity and transparency could be improved to better guide readers through the complex issues involved. Despite these weaknesses, the article effectively engages readers and contributes to ongoing debates about immigration policy and human rights.

RATING DETAILS

5
Accuracy

The article presents several claims that require verification, particularly regarding the feasibility of deporting U.S. citizens to foreign prisons. It accurately reports President Trump's statements about wanting to deport 'homegrown criminals' to El Salvador, but it lacks corroboration from legal experts or official documents confirming the legality of such actions. The mention of human rights concerns in El Salvador prisons and the financial arrangement for imprisoning deported individuals is not sufficiently backed by evidence or detailed sources. The story cites experts who claim there is no legal pathway to deport U.S.-born citizens, aligning with widely accepted legal interpretations, but it does not provide direct quotes or citations from these experts.

6
Balance

The story attempts to provide a balanced view by including perspectives from legal experts who criticize the legality of Trump's proposal. However, it predominantly focuses on Trump's statements and actions without equally presenting the views of those directly affected, such as deported individuals or human rights organizations. The mention of a Maryland man's erroneous deportation adds some balance by highlighting the consequences of administrative errors, yet the story could benefit from more diverse viewpoints, including those from El Salvador's government or international legal bodies.

6
Clarity

The article is generally clear in its presentation of President Trump's statements and the surrounding controversy. However, it lacks a logical flow in connecting the various aspects of the story, such as the legal implications and human rights concerns. The language is straightforward, but the structure could be improved to better guide readers through the complex issues involved. Some technical terms, like 'homegrown criminals' and legal jargon, are not well-defined, which might confuse readers unfamiliar with the context.

5
Source quality

The article relies on statements from President Trump and references to unnamed legal experts, which affects its source credibility. While it mentions Erin Corcoran, an immigration law expert, there are no direct quotes or detailed attributions to bolster the claims. The story also lacks a variety of sources, relying heavily on Trump's statements and secondary reporting from other media outlets. The absence of official documents or direct interviews with involved parties limits the reliability and depth of the information presented.

4
Transparency

The article does not provide sufficient context or methodology for its claims, particularly regarding the legal feasibility of deporting U.S. citizens. There is a lack of transparency about the basis for the financial arrangement with El Salvador or the conditions within the prisons mentioned. The story includes some details about Trump's statements but fails to disclose how these were obtained or verified. Additionally, there is no discussion of potential conflicts of interest or biases in the reporting process, which could impact the story's impartiality.

Sources

  1. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-homegrown-criminals-foreign-prisons-cecot/