DHS Representative Tricia McLaughlin Discusses Trump's Immigration Policy Following a 100-Day Period
Chat Transcript:
HOST:Hey there, let's talk about the current administration and its focus on immigration and border security. I recently chatted with someone who's got a big role in enforcing U.S. border policy - Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
ASSISTANT SECRETARY MCLAUGHLIN:Hey! Great to be here again, Michel.
HOST:Alrighty, so let's dive into it. How would you sum up the administration's approach to immigration in these first 100 days, philosophically speaking?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY MCLAUGHLIN:Well, we're just sticking to what the president promised - securing the border, securing the homeland. That's the mandate the American people gave him, and we're delivering.
HOST:The White House set some pretty high targets for arrests and deportations, but it seems challenging due to lower migrant crossings at the southern border. Do you think you're on track with those goals?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY MCLAUGHLIN:We've seen a lot of success at the border. It's quiet due to our Border Patrol agents doing their job. However, our Interior Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been held back for the past four years, so things are looking up. We're rectifying a culture of vilification, and we'll see these numbers grow in the next 100 days.
HOST:I hear you. The president's using some tools that past presidents haven't in peacetime, like declaring a national emergency and invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Does the DHS think this Act allows the president to bypass due process and normal immigration court procedures?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY MCLAUGHLIN:Absolutely not. We don't believe it bypasses due process, and we're following due process as guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. Different situations call for varying amounts of process, so whether someone is an illegal alien, part of a terrorist organization, or a member of a crime syndicate, the process will be tailored accordingly.
HOST:But some judges have objected to the administration's tactics in court, asking for more information and accusing the administration of being evasive. Is there an effort to provoke legal confrontations to extend executive authority beyond traditional limits?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY MCLAUGHLIN:We're executing on the will of the American people, and we'll use all the tools at our disposal to get illegal immigrants out of the country. We were prepared for an uphill battle with these courts, and activist judges are part of that. We will continue to use the Alien Enemies Act and work within constitutional due process.
HOST:Some of the judges who object to the administration's tactics have been appointed by Republicans and even by the president himself. Do you think of these judges as activist judges?
ASSISTENT SECRETARY MCLAUGHLIN:There are some judges who I would point to as activist. I can give you an example – the Wisconsin judge.
HOST:Alright, I'll leave it at that. I'm not looking to litigate each case here. What I'd like to know is if the administration has a strategy of forcing confrontations with these judges to expand the limits of its executive authority?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY MCLAUGHLIN:We are using the tools at our disposal, including the Alien Enemies Act, and we will continue to do so.
HOST:There have been some mistakes, like the case of Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a U.S. citizen arrested by ICE, and the Hermosillo family incorrectly detained in New Mexico. What's being done to prevent these errors? Will the administration offer apologies and compensation?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY MCLAUGHLIN:We do internal investigations and ensure mistakes like these don't happen again. We prioritize being excellent for the American people.
HOST:Before we wrap up, any future plans for immigration reform? What can we expect in the next 100 days?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY MCLAUGHLIN:We'll see an increase in interior operations, with more use of 287(g) authorities, deputizing state and local law enforcement for immigration enforcement actions. We'll also look at improving our legal immigration system, especially through increased vetting to ensure we know who's in this country.
HOST:Tricia McLaughlin, thanks for joining us again. We'll catch up soon.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY MCLAUGHLIN:Thanks, Michel! Take care.
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Enrichment Data:The Alien Enemies Act from 1798 has been invoked and used by the Trump administration to justify mass deportations, particularly targeting known or suspected gang members, drug dealers, or cartel members, as outlined in the 2024 Republican Party platform. This approach aims to circumvent standard immigration proceedings by classifying such removals under wartime authorities, despite no formal declaration of war or invasion.
The administration's enforcement actions, such as transfers to punitive facilities like CECOT, suggest operational reliance on the AEA. The broader stance treats due process as secondary to deportation goals, as evidenced by Vice President Vance's public remarks about prioritizing removals over procedural safeguards.
Federal courts have repeatedly challenged this interpretation. A district court in Texas blocked AEA-based removals in its jurisdiction, and the Supreme Court has raised concerns about the Act’s application absent a declared war. Judges in Colorado and New York have mandated due process protections for those detained under the AEA.
- Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, discussed the current administration's approach to immigration, highlighting the focus on securing the border and the homeland, following the president's promises.
- McLaughlin mentioned the ongoing interior immigration investigations and custom enforcement by the DHS to achieve the targets set by the White House for arrests and deportations, despite lower migrant crossings at the southern border.
- McLaughlin clarified that using tools such as declaring a national emergency and invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 does not bypass due process, but rather tailors the process to address various threats, including illegal aliens, terrorists, or crime syndicate members.
- Discussing legal confrontations with some judges, McLaughlin emphasized that the administration will continue using the Alien Enemies Act and work within constitutional due process, despite objections from some judges and the potential for activism.
- McLaughlin announced plans for the administration's future immigration policy, including increased interior operations, deputizing state and local law enforcement for immigration enforcement actions, and improving the legal immigration system through enhanced vetting to ensure the identity of those in the country.
