CBS EVENING NEWS
3/17/25
6:30 PM
JOHN DICKERSON: On this St. Patrick's Day, as millions of Americans celebrate their Irish heritage, recent events remind us that the Irish were among the first immigrants to be targeted in deportation crackdowns.
MAURICE DuBOIS: In the mid-1800s, New York and Massachusetts enforced policies to have Irish immigrants rounded up and deported.
DICKERSON: The American Civil Liberties Union didn't exist then but if it had, it may have taken the legal position it is taking now, suing the Trump administration to stop what it considers to be the illegal deportation over the weekend of more than 200 migrants to El Salvador.
DuBOIS: The big difference now, the administration says many of those flown to Central America are considered by the government to be terrorists.
DICKERSON: The administration cited a rarely-used 18th century law to justify the deportations. Senior White House Correspondent Ed O'Keefe is following the story. Good evening, Ed.
ED O'KEEFE: Good evening, John, The White House is strongly defending its decision to fly alleged gang members out of the country by using presidential war powers dating back to Thomas Jefferson. The U.S. isn't at war with anyone right now but the president is picking a legal flight.
