The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump is actively exploring legal mechanisms to deport U.S. citizens, particularly those convicted of violent crimes—an unprecedented move that has drawn fierce legal and constitutional backlash.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that Trump has “simply floated” the idea of transferring convicted American criminals to foreign nations such as El Salvador. When pressed, she acknowledged the administration is “looking into what’s legally possible.”

The admission follows earlier reporting on Trump’s private comments about removing “heinous” citizens who, in his words, “no longer deserve the protection of our country.” The proposal has been framed by the administration as part of a broader crackdown on crime, but critics say it crosses into dangerous authoritarian territory.

“There is no legal pathway to deport a U.S. citizen. None,” said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council. “This isn’t a gray area—it’s outright unconstitutional.”

The White House’s exploration of the idea comes weeks after the Supreme Court upheld Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport non-citizens with alleged gang ties. While that decision did not apply to citizens, legal observers now worry it laid the rhetorical and procedural groundwork for more radical steps.

In a recent dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned that the Court’s deference to Trump’s deportation framework could be extended dangerously. “Under the government’s logic,” she wrote, “even citizens could be sent away without due process if declared enemies.”

Advocates and civil rights groups have denounced the president’s statements as an abuse of power and a threat to the Constitution. “This is how authoritarianism functions—first they come for the outsiders, then they redefine who counts as American,” said ACLU attorney Priya Desai.

The Trump administration has not offered any legal precedent or specific plan for how it might deport citizens, but officials have not walked back the proposal either.

The Crustian Daily will continue monitoring this developing story.