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George Santos has put himself forward for a major role if Donald Trump wins the 2024 presidential election.
The former New York congressman wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that his "new year resolution" is to become Trump's director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should the former president retake the White House.
"It's time to reclaim our country and if you believe the nonsense numbers the media is giving you then you are accepting the big lie," Santos said on X, formerly Twitter.
"We have over 50M+ people who have invaded our sovereignty over the years due to careless and neglectful immigration policy, if given the job I know exactly where to start and run the much needed raids of removals proceedings this country needs."
It is not clear where Santos sourced the 50 million figure from. Estimates by the Pew Research Center based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau put the number of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. at around 10.5 million in 2021, down from its peak of 12.2 million in 2007.
Santos was expelled from Congress last month in a 311-114 vote after an investigation by the House Ethics Committee found he used campaign funds for himself. Santos denies any criminal wrongdoing. Whether Santos would have any realistic chance of gaining a foothold in a second Trump administration is unclear.
Newsweek reached out to a Trump spokesperson for comment.
"Enough abuse and disregard for our sovereignty, we are the United States OF America and not a global dumping hub," Santos wrote. "ICE has had their hands tied for far too long with the sole exception of the great four years of DJT. The time is now and that's why I'm putting my name in the mix for a role that will take grit and a fearless person and not a coward that will fear media spin."
The Biden administration continues to face a crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border that dominates much of the criticism being sent the way of the president, including attacks from his own side.
President Joe Biden's $110.5 billion foreign aid bill that contains a $14 billion request to Congress for border security has so far failed to pass through Congress.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on December 4 that it was Congress' fault the bill had not been able to pass.
"Congress has failed to act. They have failed to act. And what they continue to do is behave in—is behave as if, you know, the security of our border—as if it's political football. That's what they have done."
Republicans say stricter border measures are needed for the bill to pass.
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About the writer
Benjamin Lynch is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is U.S. politics and national affairs and he ... Read more