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Biden Supreme Court pick Jackson recognizes history of her selection, promises to be ‘independent’

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Biden Supreme Court pick Jackson recognizes history of her selection, promises to be ‘independent’

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President Biden’s Supreme Court docket nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson Monday stated she is going to adhere to the boundaries of her job as a decide if confirmed, and acknowledged the historical past behind her nomination to the court docket as a Black lady. 

“Throughout this listening to I hope that you will notice how a lot I like our nation, and the Structure, and the rights that make us free,” Jackson instructed the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I stand on the shoulders of so many who’ve come earlier than me, together with Choose Constance Baker Motley, who was the primary African-American lady to be appointed to the federal bench and with whom I share a birthday.” 

Jackson added: “Like Choose Motley, I’ve devoted my profession to making sure that the phrases engraved on the entrance of the Supreme Court docket constructing, ‘Equal Justice Beneath Legislation,’ are a actuality and never simply a great.” 

Supreme Court docket nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson listens to opening statements throughout her affirmation listening to earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee, Monday, March 21, 2022, in Washington. (AP Picture/Evan Vucci)

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GRAHAM SLAMS ‘VICIOUS’ LIBERAL EFFORT TO ‘TAKE DOWN’ CHILDS, PICK JACKSON FOR SUPREME COURT

Jackson made the feedback in her opening assertion at her affirmation listening to, which is able to run by Thursday, together with questioning from senators Wednesday and Thursday. 

Jackson additionally heaped thanks on a number of of her relations, together with her dad and mom, brother, in-laws, husband and daughters. 

“My dad and mom taught me that in contrast to the numerous boundaries that that they had needed to face rising up, my path was clearer,” she stated. “In order that if I labored laborious and I believed in myself and in America, I might do something or be something I needed to be.”

Jackson additional praised Justice Stephen Breyer, who she beforehand clerked for and who she is going to change if confirmed.

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“Justice Breyer specifically not solely gave me the best job that any younger lawyer might ever hope to have, however he additionally exemplifies what it means to be a Supreme Court docket justice of the very best degree of ability and integrity, civility, and charm,” she stated. “This can be very humbling to be thought of for Justice Breyer’s seat, and I do know I might by no means fill his sneakers. But when confirmed I’d hope to hold on his spirit. 

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer holds up a copy of the U.S. Constitution as Breyer announces he will retire at the end of the court's current term, at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque 

U.S. Supreme Court docket Justice Stephen Breyer holds up a replica of the U.S. Structure as Breyer proclaims he’ll retire on the finish of the court docket’s present time period, on the White Home in Washington, U.S., January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque 
(REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

Jackson additionally dedicated to adhering to the boundaries positioned on the judicial department, together with neutrality. 

“If I’m confirmed, I decide to you that I’ll work productively to assist and defend the Structure and this grand experiment of American democracy that has endured over these pas 246 years,” she stated. “I’ve been a decide for practically a decade now, and I take that accountability and my obligation to be impartial very significantly.”

She added: “I do know that my position as a decide is a restricted one, that the Structure empowers me solely to determine circumstances and controversies which might be correctly offered. And I do know that my judicial position is additional constrained by cautious adherence to precedent.”

Jackson’s feedback adopted introductions from former D.C. Circuit Court docket of Appeals Choose Thomas Griffith and College of Pennsylvania Carey Legislation College professor Lisa Fairfax. Griffith notably is taken into account a conservative authorized luminary and was appointed by former President George W. Bush. 

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JUDGE JACKSON MAY GET SOME REPUBLICAN VOTES: AG BILL BARR

“I’ve had many alternatives to return to evaluation her work and observe her work through the years as a decide, and on a number of events I reviewed her choices on enchantment,” Griffith stated. “Though we didn’t all the time agree on the end result the legislation required, I revered her diligent and cautious method, her deep understanding and her collegial method, indispensable traits for achievement as a justice on the Supreme Court docket.”

Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson greets Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., as she arrives for her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday, March 21, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Supreme Court docket nominee Choose Ketanji Brown Jackson greets Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., as she arrives for her affirmation listening to earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday, March 21, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Picture/Jacquelyn Martin)

Fairfax has been pals with Jackson since legislation college and praised her because the form of one who is “the primary name you make for recommendation about your profession to the primary knock you hear on the door after studying you might be recognized with most cancers.”

A number of senators, in the meantime acknowledged the historic nature of the Jackson’s appointment. 

“The arc of the ethical universe is lengthy, and it bends in direction of justice,” Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., stated. “Nicely, right this moment, America is witnessing the literal bending of the arc.”

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“Choose Jackson, you already know, together with your presence right here right this moment, you might be writing a brand new web page within the historical past of America, a very good web page,” Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., stated.

“I’ve stated prior to now, and I believe it is good for the court docket to appear to be America. So depend me in on the concept of creating the court docket extra numerous,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., stated. 

Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson gestures during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday, March 21, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Supreme Court docket nominee Choose Ketanji Brown Jackson gestures throughout her affirmation listening to earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday, March 21, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Picture/Carolyn Kaster)

REPUBLICANS LAY GROUNDWORK FOR ATTACKS IN HISTORIC JACKSON CONFIRMATION HEARING, DEMOCRATS DEFEND NOMINEE

Jackson’s feedback got here after greater than 4 hours of opening statements from senators wherein Republicans gave the impression to be laying the groundwork for assaults on Jackson’s file and Democrats preemptively arrange their defenses.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., named a number of youngster pornography circumstances that Jackson confronted when she was a federal district decide. He highlighted that in each such case, Jackson sentenced the defendant extra evenly than what federal sentencing pointers beneficial or federal prosecutors requested for. Actually, a few of the sentences have been the lightest allowed by legislation, Hawley stated. 

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“Some have stated that the federal sentencing pointers are too harsh on youngster intercourse crimes… I am unable to say I agree with that,” Hawley stated. 

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) meets U.S. Supreme Court nominee and federal appeals court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, in his office at the United States Capitol building in Washington, U.S., March 9, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein 

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) meets U.S. Supreme Court docket nominee and federal appeals court docket Choose Ketanji Brown Jackson, in his workplace at the USA Capitol constructing in Washington, U.S., March 9, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein 
(REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)

COLLINS CALLS SUPREME COURT PICK JACKSON ‘IMPRESSIVE’ AFTER MEETING, BUT REMAINS UNDECIDED

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, complained of delays in getting paperwork on Jackson’s time on the U.S. Sentencing Fee and stated a very powerful factor he seems for in a nominee is “judicial philosophy.” 

“The courts are usually not vested with a policymaking authority. In keeping with our Structure, courts hear circumstances and controversies and determine them. Nothing extra, nothing much less,” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, added. “That is an vital distinction to recollect within the days that lie forward.” 

Democrats, in the meantime, alleged that Republicans are off-base with these assaults. 

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“There may be merely no proof to assist these unfounded assaults,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., stated. 

“Choose Jackson isn’t any judicial activist. She will not be a puppet of the so-called radical left. She’s been praised by Republican-appointed judges for her jurisprudence,” Leahy stated. 

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Jimmy Carter’s Funeral: See the Full Schedule of Events

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Jimmy Carter’s Funeral: See the Full Schedule of Events

Over the next six days, various dignitaries, supporters and ordinary citizens will celebrate Jimmy Carter at several funeral events across the country that honor his life and career in public service, from his boyhood farm in rural Georgia to Washington and back.

The gestures of remembrance have all been carefully selected to reflect the 39th president’s rural roots in the small town of Plains, Ga., his political career in Georgia and Washington, and his legacy of global advocacy in Atlanta.

Here is the full schedule of events.

At 10:15 a.m., the Carter family will arrive at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Ga. There, former and current members of the Secret Service detail that protected Carter will escort his body to a hearse, which will then leave for Plains, the former president’s hometown.

The motorcade is expected to pass through Plains, pausing for a moment at his childhood farm. During that stop, the National Park Service will toll the farm bell 39 times, marking Carter’s service as the 39th president.

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Once the motorcade leaves Plains, it will head for Atlanta, where it is scheduled to arrive at 3 p.m. Once there, the motorcade will pause for a moment of silence at the Georgia State Capitol, where Carter once served as governor.

A private service will then be held at the Carter Center in Atlanta, where the former president established his presidential library and headquarters for an organization dedicated to championing democracy, fighting diseases and other global causes.

Beginning at 7 p.m., the public will be able to pay their respects at the Carter Center through early Tuesday.

Public visitation will end at 6 a.m.

At 9:30 a.m., there will be a ceremony marking Carter’s final departure from the Carter Center. His family will then travel with his body to Washington.

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They will first fly to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, arriving at 12:45 p.m. A motorcade will then take them to the U.S. Navy Memorial, in recognition of Carter’s military service.

At 2 p.m., Carter’s body will be transferred to a horse-drawn military wagon, as part of a procession to the U.S. Capitol in Washington. At the Capitol, Carter will lie in state, with a 3 p.m. service scheduled for lawmakers to pay their respects.

The public will be able to visit until midnight, and then again on Wednesday through early Thursday.

Carter will leave the Capitol at 9 a.m., with a ceremony. The procession will head to Washington National Cathedral, where a national funeral service will take place at 10 a.m.

The funeral is expected to end by 11:15 a.m., at which point the family will accompany the coffin back to Joint Base Andrews to fly to Georgia. Once back in Georgia, a motorcade will drive to Plains.

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Once the motorcade arrives at Maranatha Baptist Church, where Carter taught Sunday school for many years, a private funeral service will take place at 3:45 p.m.

An hour later, the motorcade is expected to travel to the Carter home, where his wife, Rosalynn, is buried. There, the Navy will conduct a ceremonial flyover, another tribute to Carter’s service both as a lieutenant and commander in chief.

Carter will finally be buried alongside his wife. A private interment ceremony, scheduled for 5:20 p.m., will conclude the services.

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Musk renews harsh rebuke of Dems who rejected deporting sex offenders: Vote out ‘every one’

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Musk renews harsh rebuke of Dems who rejected deporting sex offenders: Vote out ‘every one’

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Tech billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk renewed criticism of the more than 150 House Democrats who voted against deporting illegal immigrants convicted of sex offenses, demanding each of the lawmakers be voted out of office. 

“There is no excuse. Please post the list of people who opposed this law and want to keep illegals who are convicted sex offenders in America,” Musk posted to his X account on Saturday referencing a September House vote. 

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“They all need to be voted out of office. Every one of them.”

The Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act passed the House in September, after all 215 present Republicans voted in favor of the bill, and were joined by 51 Democratic colleagues. A total of 158 Democrats, however, voted against the bill. 

158 DEMS VOTE AGAINST BILL TO DEPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO COMMIT SEX CRIMES

President-elect Trump and Elon Musk watch the launch of a test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket on Nov. 19, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

The Democrats who voted against the bill came under scrutiny in September, and are facing renewed criticism on social media this month as commenters resurrect the vote ahead of President-elect Trump taking office this month. 

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“The bill targeted rapists, pedophiles, domestic abusers, and stalkers, ensuring they couldn’t stay in the U.S. Opponents claimed it ‘demonized immigrants,’ but how does protecting convicted predators help anyone – especially their victims?” X show host Mario Nawfal posted to his account Saturday, sparking Musk to weigh in. 

“Deporting violent offenders isn’t ‘fearmongering’ – it’s basic public safety. Why would anyone vote to keep criminals who prey on women and children?” Nawfal added.

EX-BORDER CHIEF WARNS OF ‘SIGNIFICANT THREAT’ AS MIGRANT NUMBERS SKYROCKET: ‘ENTIRE SECTORS’ MISSING AGENTS

The legislation would deport illegal immigrants convicted of sex crimes, and would ​​also deem illegal immigrants who admit to domestic violence or sex-related charges – or are convicted of them – to be inadmissible in the U.S., Fox Digital previously reported. The legislation is currently with the Senate, and was referred to the Judiciary Committee. 

U.S. Representatives of the 119th Congress

Representatives of the 119th Congress are sworn in during the first day of session in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 3, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Notable Democrats who voted against the legislation included Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., former California Rep. Adam Schiff, who now serves in the Senate, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

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Musk’s call for the Democrats to be voted out of Congress over the vote comes after he vowed in December to fund moderate Democratic politicians in deep blue districts, “so that the country can get rid of those who don’t represent them.”

CLYBURN BRUSHES OFF MUSK’S PLAN TO FUND MODERATES IN DEMOCRATIC DISTRICTS

Elon Musk and Trump

President-elect Trump greets Elon Musk as he arrives to attend a SpaceX Starship launch on Nov. 19, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Musk is also slated to serve alongside Vivek Ramaswamy to lead an upcoming presidential advisory committee, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which will work to cut excessive government spending and slash the size of the government under Trump’s second administration.

According to the office of the House clerk, the 158 Democrats who voted against the legislation are:

  1. Alma Adams, North Carolina
  2. Pete Aguilar, California
  3. Gabe Amo, Rhode Island
  4. Jake Auchincloss, Massachusetts
  5. Becca Balint, Vermont
  6. Nanette Barragán, California
  7. Joyce Beatty, Ohio
  8. Ami Bera, California
  9. Donald Beyer, Virginia
  10. Sanford D. Bishop Jr., Georgia
  11. Earl Blumenauer, Oregon
  12. Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon
  13. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware
  14. Jamaal Bowman, New York
  15. Shontel Brown, Ohio
  16. Julia Brownley, California
  17. Cori Bush, Missouri
  18. Salud Carbajal, California
  19. Tony Cárdenas, California
  20. André Carson, Indiana
  21. Troy Carter, Louisiana
  22. Greg Casar, Texas
  23. Ed Case, Hawaii
  24. Sean Casten, Illinois
  25. Kathy Castor, Florida
  26. Joaquin Castro, Texas
  27. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Florida
  28. Judy Chu, California
  29. Katherine Clark, Massachusetts
  30. Yvette Clarke, New York
  31. Emanuel Cleaver, Missouri
  32. James Clyburn, South Carolina
  33. Steve Cohen, Tennessee
  34. Gerald Connolly, Virginia
  35. Luis Correa, California
  36. Jim Costa, California
  37. Jasmine Crockett, Texas
  38. Jason Crow, Colorado
  39. Danny Davis, Illinois
  40. Madeleine Dean, Pennsylvania
  41. Diana DeGette, Colorado
  42. Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut
  43. Suzan DelBene, Washington
  44. Mark DeSaulnier, California
  45. Debbie Dingell, Michigan
  46. Lloyd Doggett, Texas
  47. Veronica Escobar, Texas
  48. Anna Eshoo, California
  49. Adriano Espaillat, New York
  50. Lizzie Fletcher, Texas
  51. Bill Foster, Illinois
  52. Valerie Foushee, North Carolina
  53. Lois Frankel, Florida
  54. Maxwell Frost, Florida
  55. John Garamendi, California
  56. Jesús “Chuy” Garcia, Illinois
  57. Robert Garcia, California
  58. Sylvia Garcia, Texas
  59. Dan Goldman, New York
  60. Jimmy Gomez, California
  61. Al Green, Texas
  62. James Himes, Connecticut
  63. Steny Hoyer, Maryland
  64. Valerie Hoyle, Oregon
  65. Jared Huffman, California
  66. Glenn Ivey, Maryland
  67. Jonathan Jackson, Illinois
  68. Sara Jacobs, California
  69. Pramila Jayapal, Washington
  70. Hakeem Jeffries, New York
  71. Henry “Hank” Johnson, Georgia
  72. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, California
  73. Bill Keating, Massachusetts
  74. Robin Kelly, Illinois
  75. Ro Khanna, California
  76. Dan Kildee, Michigan
  77. Derek Kilmer, Washington
  78. Andy Kim, New Jersey
  79. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Illinois
  80. Ann Kuster, New Hampshire
  81. Greg Landsman, Ohio
  82. Rick Larsen, Washington
  83. John Larson, Connecticut
  84. Barbara Lee, California
  85. Summer Lee, Pennsylvania
  86. Teresa Leger Fernandez, New Mexico
  87. Ted Lieu, California
  88. Zoe Lofgren, California
  89. Doris Matsui, California
  90. Lucy McBath, Georgia
  91. Jennifer McClellan, Virginia
  92. Betty McCollum, Minnesota
  93. Morgan McGarvey, Kentucky
  94. James McGovern, Massachusetts
  95. Gregory Meeks, New York
  96. Rob Menendez, New Jersey
  97. Grace Meng, New York
  98. Kweisi Mfume, Maryland
  99. Gwen Moore, Wisconsin
  100. Joseph Morelle, New York
  101. Seth Moulton, Massachusetts
  102. Kevin Mullin, California
  103. Jerrold Nadler, New York
  104. Grace Napolitano, California
  105. Richard Neal, Massachusetts
  106. Joe Neguse, Colorado
  107. Donald Norcross, New Jersey
  108. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York
  109. Ilhan Omar, Minnesota
  110. Frank Pallone, New Jersey
  111. Nancy Pelosi, California
  112. Scott Peters, California
  113. Brittany Pettersen, Colorado
  114. Dean Phillips, Minnesota
  115. Chellie Pingree, Maine
  116. Mark Pocan, Wisconsin
  117. Katie Porter, California
  118. Ayanna Pressley, Massachusetts
  119. Mike Quigley, Illinois
  120. Delia Ramirez, Illinois
  121. Jamie Raskin, Maryland
  122. Deborah Ross, North Carolina
  123. Raul Ruiz, California
  124. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Maryland
  125. Linda Sánchez, California
  126. John Sarbanes, Maryland
  127. Mary Scanlon, Pennsylvania
  128. Janice Schakowsky, Illinois
  129. Adam Schiff, California
  130. Bradley Schneider, Illinois
  131. Robert “Bobby” Scott, Virginia
  132. David Scott, Georgia
  133. Terri Sewell, Alabama
  134. Brad Sherman, California
  135. Darren Soto, Florida
  136. Melanie Stansbury, New Mexico
  137. Haley Stevens, Michigan
  138. Marilyn Strickland, Washington
  139. Mark Takano, California
  140. Shri Thanedar, Michigan
  141. Mike Thompson, California
  142. Bennie Thompson, Mississippi
  143. Rashida Tlaib, Michigan
  144. Jill Tokuda, Hawaii
  145. Paul Tonko, New York
  146. Norma Torres, California
  147. Ritchie Torres, New York
  148. Lori Trahan, Massachusetts
  149. David Trone, Maryland
  150. Lauren Underwood, Illinois
  151. Juan Vargas, California
  152. Marc Veasey, Texas
  153. Nydia Velázquez, New York
  154. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida
  155. Maxine Waters, California
  156. Bonnie Watson Coleman, New Jersey
  157. Nikema Williams, Georgia
  158. Frederica Wilson, Florida

The Democrats who voted against the legislation came under fierce scrutiny in September from conservatives. 

“If you vote against it, you’re sexist against women,” South Carolina Republican Nancy Mace, who introduced the legislation, said in September to Fox Digital. 

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Migrants border

Migrants attempt to cross into the U.S. from Mexico at the border Dec. 17, 2023 in Jacumba Hot Springs, California. (Nick Ut/Getty Images)

ELON MUSK AGREES WITH RON PAUL’S CALL TO ‘ELIMINATE FOREIGN AID’

“I mean, truly, because we’re talking about illegals who are here who are committing domestic violence, rape and murder on women and children – they’ve gotta go. They shouldn’t be allowed into our country.”

“158 Democrats just voted AGAINST deporting migrants for s*x offenses. This is a slap in the face to every victim and their family members. Democrats hate you and your children,” popular conservative X account Libs of TikTok posted at the time. 

Democrats who voted against the bill characterized it as xenophobic and an example of “fearmongering” against immigrants. 

“Here we are again, debating another partisan bill that fear mongers about immigrants, instead of working together to fix the immigration system,” Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said during debate on the bill.

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“I probably shouldn’t be too surprised. Scapegoating immigrants and attempting to weaponize the crime of domestic violence is appearing to be a time-honored tradition for Republicans.”

Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report. 

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Opinion: Why Trump's plan to deport millions will fall far short of what it promises

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Opinion: Why Trump's plan to deport millions will fall far short of what it promises

Will President-elect Donald Trump’s vow to “launch the largest deportation program in American history” truly keep millions of immigrants out of the country? My research on deportees over the last five years suggests it won’t.

Here’s why: They’ll come back.

One of the migrants I interviewed was deported to a perilous town in northern Mexico, where he found himself in immediate danger on arriving at a bus terminal. Members of a criminal group demanded that he provide a contraseña — a password he didn’t have — or face kidnapping. He ultimately borrowed $1,500 from a friend to pay them off, remain free and make his way back to the United States.

His experience is an example of the risks deportees face in their countries of origin. Those dangers — and the relative safety of the only homes they have — often motivate them to undertake harrowing journeys back to the United States.

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Although data on deportees is somewhat limited, the evidence we have shows that people re-immigrate after deportation more frequently than many might expect. In fiscal 2020, for example, the federal government classified 40% of deportations as “reinstatements of removal,” meaning the deportees had reentered the United States after being removed or ordered to leave. A 2019 report by the American Immigration Council, a pro-immigration advocacy group, similarly noted that such reinstatements of removal generally make up 40% of deportations annually. From 2011 to 2020, approximately 1.3 million deportations affected people who had been deported before.

That’s because deportation policies are at best blunt instruments that take little account of the human lives they ensnare. Those who view mass deportation as a solution to unauthorized immigration ignore the deep roots, sense of belonging, family ties and resolve that drive people back to the country they call home.

Undeterred by deportation, people I’ve interviewed have found ways to return to the United States with or without permission. Their stories reveal the rarely discussed truth that deportation is not necessarily the end of migration; it is often a temporary, futile interruption.

I spoke to another man who was born in Mexico but raised in the United States, served in the military and struggled with post-traumatic stress. Because of a minor cannabis possession charge, he was deported to a country he barely remembered. In 2021, more than a decade after his exile, he returned to the only land he considers his own, the United States.

“You can travel the world,” he told me, “but eventually, your heart and spirit will call you home.”

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Another Mexican-born, U.S.-raised military veteran I interviewed was also deported over a marijuana charge. Feeling “erased from existence,” he risked his life to return less than a month later.

“I don’t need a paper to tell me I’m an American,” he told me.

These stories expose a fundamental flaw of mass deportation. In contrast to the cyclical migration patterns of earlier decades — when migrants, mostly men, moved back and forth between the United States and Mexico with relative ease in response to the labor market — today’s cycle is driven by government coercion and unbreakable bonds. Forced departures lead to inevitable returns as deportees are pulled back by connections that no amount of enforcement can sever.

The coyotes who smuggle them have become part of what the anthropologist Jason De León calls a “border-security-industrial complex.” If their illicit businesses were publicly traded, their stocks would be soaring on renewed demand. Meanwhile, border enforcement policies push migrants into treacherous terrain where they face dehydration, hypothermia and death in the desert.

For deportees, returning is an act not just of determination, but of survival. Some are lucky enough to make it back, but as the Spanish saying goes, “Tanto va el cántaro al agua hasta que se quiebra”: The pitcher goes to the well until it finally breaks. Deportation policies push people to take increasingly greater risks to return to the only homes they’ve ever known. The next attempt could always be their last.

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Deportation may well become the defining issue of our era if we continue down this punitive path. When mass deportations fail, what will follow? Will we see modern-day versions of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s executive order authorizing forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans, complete with “relocation centers”?

Under a very different executive order signed by President Biden in 2021, the Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs departments prioritized the return of deported U.S. military members and their families. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, similarly sought to recognize longtime residents’ ties to the country and restore their place in the American communities they call home.

Such policies live up to American ideals of justice and inclusion by embracing those who, in every meaningful way, already belong. Mass deportation would betray those values, put even more lives at risk and very often fail on its own terms.

Saúl Ramírez is a fellow at Harvard Law School and a doctoral candidate in sociology at Harvard.

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