In a startling interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” aired on May 4, 2025, President Donald Trump expressed uncertainty about whether undocumented immigrants in the U.S. are entitled to due process rights under the Constitution. This statement, made amidst his administration’s aggressive push to deport millions, has sparked widespread alarm among legal experts and civil rights advocates, who warn of a potential erosion of foundational legal principles.
Trump’s Uncertainty: When asked if all people on U.S. soil are entitled to due process, Trump responded, “I don’t know. I’m not a lawyer. I don’t know,” adding that providing such rights would require “a million or 2 million or 3 million trials.”
The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments explicitly guarantee due process to all “persons” in the U.S., not just citizens, a principle upheld by the Supreme Court for over a century. Trump’s comments come as his administration faces legal battles over its immigration policies, including the deportation of individuals like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was sent to El Salvador despite a federal judge’s order to facilitate his return. Critics argue that these actions reflect a deliberate strategy to bypass constitutional protections, potentially setting a dangerous precedent for all residents, citizen or not.
Legal scholars emphasize that due process is a bedrock of American democracy, ensuring fair treatment under the law. Trump’s remarks, coupled with his administration’s defiance of court orders, have fueled concerns of a looming constitutional crisis. As the debate intensifies, the nation watches closely to see how the judiciary will respond to this unprecedented challenge to its authority.
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