Joe Rogan Breaks With Trump Over Deportation Policy

LOS ANGELES, CA – Joe Rogan, the influential podcaster, has publicly split from former President Donald Trump regarding the administration’s controversial mass migration policy. In a recent podcast episode, Rogan slammed the possibility that innocent civilians might face deportation to a notorious El Salvadorian prison, a situation he described as a ‘hell on earth.’

The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport hundreds of alleged gang members, sparking widespread lawsuits and protests. However, reports indicate that many individuals, including innocent civilians, have been mistakenly identified as gang members and swept up in the mass raids. Rogan expressed grave concerns about the implications for those caught in this administrative error.

“It’s horrific,” Rogan stated during his episode with comedian Konstantin Kisin on Saturday. “You got to get scared that people who are not criminals are getting lassoed up and deported. This is crazy. Let’s get the gang members out, but let’s not deport innocent people.”

Among those wrongfully targeted is a gay barber who had legally entered the United States. He was reportedly detained and sent to the grim prison in El Salvador, raising significant alarm about the treatment of individuals within the immigration system. A prison report detailed an emotional scene in which the barber pleaded his innocence, stating, ‘I’m not a gang member. I’m gay. I’m a barber.’

Rogan referenced this incident in his podcast, questioning, “How long before that guy can get out? Is there any plan in place to correct this horrible mistake?” His condemnation came as a significant blow to the administration, particularly given his support for Trump’s policies during his initial months back in office.

Andrys Hernandez, a 31-year-old makeup artist seeking asylum after fleeing Venezuela, also claimed he was wrongfully deported as part of the same operation. His lawyers asserted that Hernandez faced deadly persecution due to his sexuality. After crossing from Tijuana, Mexico, into California, he awaited an immigration hearing that never materialized. Instead, he found himself aboard a plane returning to El Salvador.

Rogan emphasized the need for accountability in such situations, stating, “Mistakes are going to be made, but there has to be an avenue to correct them, and it can’t just be burying your head in the sand.’ He criticized the current political culture of avoiding admission of fault, stating, ‘If you want reasonable people to be on board with you, you can’t deport gay hairdressers seeking asylum. That’s nuts.’

The deportations have intensified legal battles for the Trump administration, which maintains that gangs like Tren de Aragua are infiltrating the United States. The administration has deported 17 more alleged gang members within recent days, despite ongoing disputes with the judiciary over the legality of these actions.

In a statement, the State Department confirmed the deportation of individuals, some classified as violent criminals, to El Salvador. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed gratitude to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele for their cooperation, stating, ‘These criminals will no longer terrorize our communities and citizens.’

The conditions of the Salvadoran prison have drawn widespread condemnation, often described by critics as a ‘black hole of human rights.’ Detainees reportedly endure severe overcrowding and inadequate living conditions.