Experts reveal legal and financial challenges in Trump’s mass deportation plans.
President-elect Donald Trump recently reaffirmed his commitment to deporting undocumented immigrants, indicating cost won’t deter this priority. He stated, “It’s not a question of a price tag… really, we have no choice.” Trump credited his tough immigration stance for his election win, asserting, “They want to have borders… [people] have to come in legally.”
Experts note that implementing mass deportation poses significant logistical and legal challenges. Approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants reside in the U.S., with most long-term residents. Current immigration law mandates due process, requiring court hearings before deportations, adding to the system’s existing backlogs. To achieve Trump’s goals, substantial expansion of the immigration court system and ICE resources would be required. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council cautioned, “ICE simply cannot process millions of people.”
Trump plans to target “sanctuary cities” that limit cooperation with ICE. However, the lack of coordination between federal and local authorities complicates these efforts. Kathleen Bush-Joseph, a Migration Policy Institute analyst, explained that ICE relies on local cooperation to efficiently detain undocumented individuals, adding that refusal to assist complicates enforcement. Some local governments, such as in Florida’s Broward and Palm Beach counties, have already stated they will not support mass deportations.
The Biden administration deported roughly 1.1 million people by early 2024, close to Trump’s previous administration total. But Trump’s campaign has floated using the National Guard or military assistance to ramp up efforts. Trump has suggested incentives for local law enforcement participation and hinted at building detention facilities.
Experts warn of potential human costs, including separated families and potential community upheaval. Adam Isacson from the Washington Office on Latin America cautioned against the negative optics of mass deportations, emphasizing, “You’d have some very painful images on TV… incredibly bad press.” Immigration advocates and historians also underscore that a modern mass deportation could differ greatly from past efforts like 1954’s Operation Wetback, which was halted due to public backlash.
Operational costs also pose a major challenge, with ICE’s 2023 deportation budget at $420 million. Expanding this for mass deportations would likely require tens of billions in new funding. Despite this, Trump remains steadfast, noting, “We have to do this. This is not a sustainable problem for our country.”
