President Donald Trump slammed European leaders on Saturday, claiming that the “horrible invasion” of immigrants is killing the continent.
Having arrived in Scotland on Friday evening to open his brand new golf course, the president wasted no time touting his success in immigration. Speaking with reporters on the tarmac of Prestwick airport, the president touted his successes at the Southern border.
“On immigration, you better get your act together or you’re not going to have Europe anymore,” Trump said to the assembled press. “You got to get your act together and last month we had nobody entering our country. Nobody. Shut it down. And we took out a lot of bad people that got there with Biden.“
“Biden was a total stiff. And what he allowed to happen,” Trump continued in lambasting his predecessor. “But you’re allowing it to happen to your countries and you got to stop this horrible invasion that’s happening to Europe.”
“Many countries in Europe, some people, some leaders have not let it happen. And they’re not getting the proper credit. They should,” added the president. “I could name them to you right now, but I’m not going to embarrass the other ones. But stop this. Immigration is killing Europe.”
Previous reports indicated the U.K. saw a massive surge in immigration between 2022 and 2023 when small boat crossings reached over 44,000 per year. It was also reported that this year alone, nearly 22,500 people have arrived in the U.K. by crossing the English Channel.
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According to the government, crossings are up 57% by the same point last year. Fox News reported that net immigration to the U.K. was down to 431,000 last year, down almost 50% from 2023.
Meanwhile, back in the U.S., reports have come in that deportation flights from the isolated center, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” have started and are set to ramp up shortly. During a press briefing near the site, DeSantis revealed that the initial Department of Homeland Security flights have already relocated around 100 detainees from the immigration facility to other countries.
“You’re going to see the numbers go up dramatically,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said. It was reported that so far, only two or three flights have taken off, although the destinations were not disclosed by officials.
The South Florida detention center has faced harsh criticism for its conditions, but DeSantis and fellow Republicans tout it as a key component of the state’s robust efforts to back President Donald Trump‘s strict immigration policies.
Officials, including DeSantis, have indicated that the construction of the center in the Everglades and its comparison to the infamous federal penitentiary serve as deterrents. Shortly after the opening ceremony of the Florida detention center, President Trump hinted at the possibility of reopening Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay.
The Everglades complex was constructed within just days, sprawling across 10 square miles. The facility boasts over 200 surveillance cameras and more than 5 miles of razor wire.
A neighboring airstrip makes it easier for DHS personnel to transport detainees to and from the location. According to Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie on Friday, the site can accommodate twice the current 2,000 individuals.