President Trump reportedly told the head of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that he would pardon him if he were sent to jail for violating immigration law.
CNN’s Jake Tapper reported Friday that Trump made the comment to CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan during a visit to the border at Calexico, Calif. Trump has since named McAleenan to serve as acting Homeland Security Secretary following the resignation of Kirstjen Nielsen.
{mosads}CNN, citing two unnamed officials briefed on the exchange, reported that Trump told McAleenan he ”would pardon him if he ever went to jail for denying U.S. entry to migrants.”
It was reported earlier this week that during the visit to the border, Trump told CBP agents to block migrants from entering the U.S., a violation of federal laws and court orders.
Sources told CNN on Monday that Trump told agents that if a judge ordered them to let migrants in, they should say: “Sorry, judge, I can’t do it. We don’t have the room.”
“At no time has the President indicated, asked, directed or pressured the Acting Secretary to do anything illegal,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesman told The Hill. “Nor would the Acting Secretary take actions that are not in accordance with our responsibility to enforce the law.”