White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to concerns from some New Hampshire residents over a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, arguing that illegal immigration remains a national issue even as the southern border is now secure.
During an exchange with a reporter, the issue of local opposition was raised directly.
“Supporters of President Trump, who live in the town say we’re not sure we want this. What’s your message to the folks in New Hampshire about this proposed ICE facility?” the reporter asked.
Leavitt said the administration views additional detention space as necessary given the number of illegal aliens still inside the country.
“The message is that illegal immigration, while the border is secure, is still a problem across our entire homeland, and the previous administration allowed nearly 20 million illegal aliens from countries all over the world into our country, and the President and Secretary Noem have done a phenomenal job at deporting nearly 3 million illegals have left the country either through deportation or self deportation under the over the past year,” Leavitt said.
She added that millions remain in the United States and that enforcement efforts are continuing, including in New England.
“But obviously there are a lot more illegal alien criminals left in our homeland. That includes in New England. There are many within our communities, in New Hampshire, in Maine and definitely in Massachusetts and in the Boston suburbs that need to be arrested, detained, and deported back to their home countries,” she said.
Leavitt said the administration is working with governors across the country to expand detention capacity to facilitate those arrests and removals.
“And so the President and Secretary Noem and I know ICE are engaged with local governors across the whole country, including in New Hampshire, to open more detention facilities,” she said.
She characterized the need for additional facilities as the result of policies enacted before President Trump returned to office.
“This is an unfortunate consequence of the previous administration’s border invasion that the President has thankfully put a stop to,” Leavitt said.
She concluded by reiterating that enforcement efforts require additional space to detain individuals awaiting deportation.
“But of course, we still need to grapple with the illegal alien criminals who are here, and that requires more detention space.”
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