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By Sonam Sheth
Evening Politics Editor
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A Canadian lawmaker warned on Thursday that under the Trump administration's strict immigration policies, Canadians and Europeans are at risk of being deported to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The comments from Charlie Angus, a member of Canada's parliament, come days after the Trump administration deported 238 Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center. The mega-prison, known as Cecot, is infamous for its overcrowding and its reported abuse and torture of prisoners.
Read More on Politics
President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which allows the U.S. to deport noncitizens without due process, to carry out the deportations. The administration has alleged that the Venezuelans who were deported have ties to the Tren de Aragua gang, though it's given little concrete evidence to back up its claim.
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What To Know
"We know if [Trump] can get away with this, there's no reason that a Canadian, or a German, or someone from UK isn't going to be picked up and deported to some El Salvadoran concentration camp," Angus said Thursday.
"Because that is what's happening in the United States with the complete abdication of the rule of law," he added. "Canada is a country of the rule of law, Canada is a country of democracy. Canada must stand firm at this time. I urge people not to travel to the United States, but to keep the boycott, keep strong, because Canada will never kiss that gangster's ring."
"We are true, we are north, we are strong, we are free, we will not bend, and we will not give an inch," he vowed.
Angus is a harsh and frequent Trump critic and recently mocked the U.S. president's "stupidity."
The lawmaker told the left-wing MeidasTouch Network that Canada wants to normalize its trading relationship with the U.S., "but if you're going to make them our enemy well, Donald, we're going to fight you the whole way, and you're going to lose."
He went on to criticize Trump's broad and sweeping tariffs and the resulting economic turmoil from his policies.
"It's starting to turn into a total circus," Angus said of the U.S. economy. "You've got to understand, Donald, that the economy is something bigger and broader and smarter than your stupidity right now."
The Canadian lawmaker also criticized Trump's decision to normalize ties with Russia amid its continued war against Ukraine.
"You've kissed up to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, you've bowed down to him like you're an obedient Boy Scout," Angus said. "This guy is a war criminal, this man is a disgrace, you've kissed up to North Korea and yet your biggest threat in the world is Canada because you thought we were easy?"
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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