Ted Nugent, a conservative rock musician, supports the Trump administration’s efforts to arrest and deport illegal immigrants.
During an interview on On Balance, Nugent, who lives in Texas, said that private landowners like himself have secured their own borders and expect the government to do the same. “The least we can ask is for the government to protect our country like we do,” he said.
Federal officials say they are currently focusing on arresting the most dangerous migrants but admit their goal is to deport anyone in the U.S. illegally. Nugent believes authorities shouldn’t waste time deciding who is dangerous. “If you’ve entered the country illegally, you’re already a bad guy,” he argued, adding, “This is war.”
Nugent, 76, became famous in the 1970s and 1980s, best known for his hit song Cat Scratch Fever. He later joined the supergroup Damn Yankees.
In recent years, he has been known for his outspoken views on politics, immigration, and gun rights. In 2014, he suggested that illegal immigrants should work as “indentured servants” to earn citizenship.
In 2012, Nugent got into trouble after telling an NRA audience that he would be “dead or in jail” if Barack Obama won reelection. The Secret Service investigated but dropped the matter after speaking with him. He later apologized for calling Obama a “subhuman mongrel.”
