A senior immigration enforcement figure is pushing for broad, Eisenhower-era-style powers to round up and deport illegal immigrants, arguing it's needed to head off what he calls the biggest threat to the US since its founding.

• He wants the immigration system shifted back toward an administrative process, outside the courts, so removals can happen faster.
• He argues illegal immigrants should have no legal protections at all, framing this as separate from any American citizen's rights.
• He dismissed worries that such broad powers could slide into martial law or threaten citizens' rights, including gun rights, saying those fears only apply to immigration enforcement, not Americans.
• He pointed to unrest in France as a warning sign of what unchecked immigration leads to, and brushed off opponents as a small fringe of "anarchists."

Outlook: Expect continued pressure from enforcement officials for expanded executive authority on deportations, with civil liberties groups likely to push back hard on the rights implications.