United States President-elect Donald Trump has outlined a comprehensive plan to deport all immigrants residing in the country without legal status during his four-year term. Speaking in an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Trump described illegal immigration as a “national emergency” he intends to tackle immediately upon assuming office on January 20.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, as of January 2022, over 11 million individuals were living in the U.S. without legal documentation, with the current number potentially even higher. Trump stated, “I think you have to do it. It’s a very tough thing to do. You know, you have rules, regulations, laws.”
Despite his firm stance on enforcement, Trump expressed a willingness to negotiate protections for “Dreamers,” immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which shields Dreamers from deportation, became a point of contention during Trump’s first term. His efforts to dismantle the program were blocked by the Supreme Court, leaving the policy intact.
The legal foundation for Dreamer protections stems from the 14th Amendment of the Constitution and an 1898 Supreme Court ruling, granting citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil regardless of their parents’ status. While Trump acknowledged potential legal challenges to his broader immigration crackdown, he hinted that constitutional amendments or public referendums might be necessary to achieve his goals.
Implementing the proposed measures comes with significant financial implications. The American Immigration Council estimates the cost of deporting all unauthorized immigrants at $88 billion annually. Trump’s team, led by incoming border czar Tom Homan, has urged Congress to approve increased funding for immigration enforcement to make the plan feasible.
Trump’s proposal is poised to spark intense national debate, with supporters praising his firm stance on upholding immigration laws and critics raising concerns about the moral, legal, and economic consequences of such a sweeping policy.
