People protest outside the Rhode Island State House in Providence, R.I., on Monday, March 17, 2025, showing support for Dr. Rasha Alawieh from Brown University, who was recently deported. AP Photo
A Canadian lawmaker has warned that the Trump administration’s strict immigration measures could put Canadians and Europeans at risk of being deported to El Salvador’s notorious mega-prison. This comes after the U.S. recently deported 238 Venezuelans to the overcrowded facility.
Charlie Angus, a member of Canada’s parliament, voiced his concerns on Thursday. He said the recent deportations show that citizens of allied nations, including Canada, could face the same fate. The mega-prison in El Salvador, known as Cecot, is infamous for its poor conditions and reports of abuse.
The deportations were carried out under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. This law allows the U.S. government to remove noncitizens without proper legal proceedings. The Trump administration claims the deported Venezuelans had links to the Tren de Aragua gang, though it has provided little evidence to support the accusations.
Angus expressed serious alarm over the situation. “If Trump can do this now, what’s stopping him from detaining and deporting Canadians or Germans to some El Salvadoran concentration camp?” he said. He called the U.S. government’s actions a “complete breakdown of the rule of law.”
He urged Canadians to avoid traveling to the U.S. and continue boycotting the country. “Canada stands for democracy and the rule of law. We won’t bow down to this gangster,” he declared. “We are true, we are strong, and we will not give in.”
Angus has been a vocal critic of Trump’s leadership. He recently mocked the U.S. president, calling his economic policies a “circus” and slamming his approach to trade and diplomacy. Angus claimed Canada wants to maintain a stable trade relationship with the U.S., but said Trump’s actions are making that impossible.
“If you make Canada your enemy, we will fight you the whole way—and you will lose,” he said. He also criticized Trump’s widespread tariffs, which have hurt global trade and caused economic instability.
The MP didn’t hold back in his criticism of Trump’s foreign policies either. He condemned Trump’s friendly stance towards Russian President Vladimir Putin despite Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine.
“You’ve kissed up to Putin like you’re an obedient Boy Scout,” Angus said. “He’s a war criminal. And yet you treat Canada like the enemy? You thought we were easy? You’re wrong.”
His fiery comments reflect the growing tension between Canada and the U.S. as Trump’s immigration policies raise fears of wrongful deportations and strained diplomatic ties.
