Sen. Rand Paul opposes use of military for deportations, says it’s illegal

Republican Senator Rand Paul said he opposes using the military for mass deportations, which President-elect Donald Trump said he plans to do. Paul said on Face the Nation that he believes using the military for such an operation would look bad and be illegal. 

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky: “But you don’t do it with the Army because it’s illegal. We’ve, we’ve had a distrust of putting the army into our streets, because the police have a difficult job but the police understand the Fourth Amendment. They have to go to Judges. They have to get warrants. It has to be specific. And so I’m for removing these people, but I would do it through the normal process of domestic policing.”

The plan to use the military was confirmed by Trump when he wrote “True” in response to a post that stated his administration is prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets for a mass deportation program. 

Paul said he would use the FBI, ICE and Border Patrol. He added he would vote against using the military in cities. Paul was specifically asked about deputizing the National Guard. 

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky: “It’s less clear whether that’s legal or illegal. Typically, it has to be done at the behest of the governors. I still don’t like a militarization of police, whether it’s National Guard or army. I think there’s a lot of FBI, there’s a lot of border patrol agents. There’s a better way to do it, and it needs to be individualized.”

A CBS News poll found 57% of Americans support the president-elect’s deportation plan, while 43% disapprove. 

However, 82% believe the operation should be carried out by immigration and border patrol agencies, only 40% say the US military should be involved. 

Sen. John Barrasso, R-WY: I support the president. We have a national security crisis in this country right now because of our open border and when he declares a national emergency he can appropriately use the military. There are over 10 million illegal immigrants in the country right now. We are talking about drug dealers, people in criminal cartels. These are folks who have actually been murdering, raping, poisoning Americans. 

The details of the deportation operation have not been released. Troops have been used at the southern border in the past where they were unarmed and played a logistical and support role for the Border Patrol.