WH Denies Mass Deportation Is Goal Of Guidelines Targeting Those In US Illegally

White House press secretary Sean Spicer talks to the media during the daily press briefing at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
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White House press secretary Sean Spicer denied on Tuesday that mass deportation is one of the goals of new guidelines from President Donald Trump’s administration targeting immigrants who are living in the United States illegally.

“On immigration, on the DHS memos,” ABC’s Cecilia Vega asked during Spicer’s daily press briefing. “Is one of the goals here mass deportation?”

“No,” Spicer replied.

“Not at all?” Vega pressed.

“This isn’t — look, what we have to get back to is understanding a couple of things,” Spicer said. “What the order sets out today is, ensures that the million or so people that have been adjudicated already, that I.C.E. prioritizes, creates a system of prioritization and makes sure that we walk through that system in a way that protects this country.”

He said that it is “consistent” with Trump’s stated positions on immigration and national security.

“All this does is lay out the exact procedures to make sure that that subgroup of people who pose a threat to our nation because of a conviction or a violation of public safety or have a criminal record are adjudicated first and foremost,” Spicer said. “That’s it. Plain and simple.”

Memos from the Department of Homeland Security released on Tuesday contained new guidelines greatly expanding the number of people living in the United States illegally who are considered a priority for deportation.

The memos eliminated guidelines from President Barack Obama’s administration that focused immigration enforcement on those convicted of serious crimes or considered to be a threat to national security.

The new guidelines call for immigrants to be deported if they are convicted, charged or suspected of a “chargeable criminal offense,” a category which includes illegal entry to the United States.

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Notable Replies

  1. You mean, consistent with Trump’s stated goal of mass deportations?

  2. “That’s it.”

    That’s always an ominous sign coming from Spice.

  3. “Is one of the goals here mass deportation?”

    “No,” Spicer replied."

    “Not at all?” Vega pressed.

    “He said that it is “consistent” with Trump’s stated positions on immigration and national security.”

    Trump’s stated position: mass deportation.

    Doublethink…it’s what’s for dinner.

  4. This appears to be Trump’s and Bannon’s “Chrystal Nacht”!

  5. The Whole World is Watching.
    The Whole World is Watching.
    The Whole World is Watching.

    We will NOT let you destroy America and replace it with “Amurika”.
    We will NOT let you turn “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave” into “The Land of the Wealthy and the home of the Slave.”

    We will NOT let you change “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath Free.” into “Give me your Corporate Executives, your Wealthy Demagogues, your International Investors yearning to be Tax Free.”

    Fuck You Trump.

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