Donald Trump has vowed to launch a “mass deportation” of at least 11 million immigrants living in the United States without authorization if he returns to the White House. While he made a similar promise during his first administration, the logistical and legal obstacles slowed progress. However, experts believe that things may be different this time around. A second, more experienced Trump administration knows how to effectively use the bureaucratic system to their advantage, with fewer legal obstacles in place due to his reshaping of the courts.
If Trump wins a second term, public opinion may be on his side for controversial methods such as separating immigrant parents from their children in order to prosecute the adults. A significant portion of respondents support Trump’s mass deportation proposal, according to a recent poll.
Although Trump has not released detailed plans for this mass deportation, it is expected that emergency and executive authorities will be used to bypass existing laws, including involving the military and National Guard in immigration enforcement efforts. The cost of a mass deportation of 1 million people per year is estimated to be $88 billion annually.
Targeting enforcement efforts would involve focusing on individuals with existing removal orders, those with criminal histories, and those in detention on state or local criminal charges. However, the sheer number and complexity of the immigrant population, which includes various groups with different statuses, present a significant challenge to any large-scale deportation efforts.
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