President Trump issues stern threat to undocumented immigrants: 'We are going to get them out'

Shortly after signing two executive orders on immigration Wednesday, President Donald Trump vowed to "get the bad ones out." "The day is over when they can stay in our country and wreak havoc," Trump said while speaking at the Department of Homeland Security about his plans to crackdown on immigration. "We are going to get them out and get them out fast." Trump said he was doing this because of his duty "to protect the lives of the American people," and insisted that "when it comes to public safety, there is no place for politics."
Trump went on to explain that he will "work within the existing system" to reinforce current immigration laws, and emphasized the importance of a strong border. "A nation without borders is not a nation," Trump said. "Beginning today, the United States of America gets back control of its borders."
Trump's executive orders direct funding towards the construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall and revoke federal grants for sanctuary cities and U.S. cities that are not enforcing federal immigration laws. Trump indicated in an interview Wednesday that construction of the wall will begin in "months."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Watch a snippet of Trump's speech below. Becca Stanek
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Exploring Georgia's southern highlands
The Week Recommends Visit Javakheti, Georgia's 'lake district', and meet the last-remaining 'spirit wrestlers' in the region
-
Delivery drivers face continuing heat danger with Trump's OSHA pick
The Explainer David Keeling is the former head of UPS and also worked at Amazon
-
Is that the buzzing sound of climate change worsening sleep apnea?
Under the radar Catching diseases, not those ever-essential Zzs
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami
-
GOP races to revise megabill after Senate rulings
Speed Read A Senate parliamentarian ruled that several changes to Medicaid included in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" were not permissible