United States President-elect Donald Trump has unveiled his plans to deport all immigrants living in the U.S. illegally over the course of his upcoming four-year term.
In an interview aired Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump outlined a broad crackdown on illegal immigration, which he intends to classify as a national emergency when he assumes office on January 20.
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The Department of Homeland Security estimates that more than 11 million people are currently living in the U.S. without legal status, a number that is likely to have increased since the last count in January 2022. Trump reaffirmed his intention to remove all unauthorized immigrants, stating, “I think you have to do it. It’s a very tough thing to do. You know, you have rules, regulations, laws.”
While stressing the importance of enforcement, Trump also indicated a willingness to negotiate protections for “Dreamers,” immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children. During his first term, Trump attempted to dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides deportation relief for this group, but was blocked by the Supreme Court.
In addition to deportations, Trump has signaled his intention to issue an executive order on his first day in office to end birthright citizenship. This policy, which grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil regardless of their parents’ immigration status, is grounded in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution and an 1898 Supreme Court ruling. Trump acknowledged that legal challenges could arise from this move, suggesting that accomplishing the goal may require a constitutional amendment.
The financial cost of implementing these measures would be substantial. The American Immigration Council estimates that deporting all unauthorized immigrants would cost $88 billion annually. Trump’s team, including incoming border czar Tom Homan, has urged Congress to approve significant funding increases to support the enforcement efforts needed for these policies.
