Even before he officially takes office, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is already facing a potential lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union over his plans for deportations, a ban on Muslims entering the country, a reintroduction of torture, as well as punishment of women seeking abortions.
“President-elect Trump, as you assume the nation’s highest office, we urge you to reconsider and change course on certain campaign promises you have made,” Anthony D. Romero, ACLU’s executive director, wrote in a statement on the group’s website.
“These include your plan to amass a deportation force to remove 11 million undocumented immigrants; ban the entry of Muslims into our country and aggressively surveil them; punish women for accessing abortion; reauthorize waterboarding and other forms of torture; and change our nation’s libel laws and restrict freedom of expression.”
Romero said such proposals are against the Constitution for the United States and Trump would have to “contend with the full firepower of the ACLU at every step.”
He added that his group will be watching his actions every day and will employ its thousands of staff members and volunteers to oppose any of his unlawful policies. “The Constitution and the rule of law are stronger than any one person, and we will see to that. We will never waver.”
This threat will most likely be realized as Donald Trump has already issued his first 100-day plan and it includes extremely repressive policies on immigration and fossil fuel production.
Trump’s possible picks for some of the most crucial positions in the government already suggest that his plans on LGBTQ rights, women's rights and immigration will fall in line with his campaign promises.
“One thing is certain: We will be eternally vigilant every single day of your presidency. And when you leave the Oval Office, we will do the same with your successor as we have done throughout our nearly 100 years of existence,” Romero concluded.