Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky expressed strong opposition to the potential deployment of U.S. military forces for mass deportations, an idea recently endorsed by President-elect Trump. Speaking on Newsmax’s “Rob Schmitt Tonight” on Tuesday, Paul criticized the proposal, stating, “I will not support an emergency that puts the Army into our cities. I believe it’s a mistake.”
Trump has recently indicated that his administration might declare a national emergency on immigration to enable mass deportations. On Monday, he amplified the notion by sharing a social media post affirming the plan, adding the caption “TRUE!!!”
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul decries the image of military personnel conducting deportations in urban areas
Paul, who is poised to lead the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, reiterated his disapproval during the interview. He argued against deploying military personnel in urban areas for immigration enforcement, calling it a misguided approach. “The image of uniformed soldiers collecting people in our cities is a terrible one. That’s not the purpose of our military,” Paul said.
He further emphasized that military personnel lack the training necessary for domestic law enforcement tasks like deportations. Paul noted, “The military isn’t equipped to secure warrants or handle these responsibilities. Immigration enforcement should be handled by trained domestic agencies, not the armed forces.”
Although Paul supports addressing illegal immigration and deporting individuals with criminal records, he remains firmly against involving the military in such operations. “I back efforts to remove those here illegally, especially criminals, but having the Army patrolling our streets is not the solution,” Paul explained.
Paul urged Trump to reconsider using emergency powers for military enforcement within the U.S., expressing hope that the president-elect would reflect on the broader implications of such actions.
