In a recent interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, President-elect Donald Trump outlined his ambitious plans for addressing illegal immigration in the United States during his upcoming term. Trump confirmed his intention to initiate a broad deportation effort, aiming to remove all individuals residing in the country without legal status.
According to estimates from the Department of Homeland Security, over 11 million people were living in the U.S. without legal authorization as of January 2022, with that number likely having increased. Trump emphasized the importance of upholding immigration laws, calling the task of deportation “very tough,” but necessary for national security and legal integrity.
While focusing on enforcement, Trump expressed openness to negotiating protections for “Dreamers”—immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. This marks a shift from his previous stance, where his administration sought to dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which shields Dreamers from deportation. However, the Supreme Court blocked his efforts to end DACA during his first term.
On his first day in office, Trump plans to issue an executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship—a policy rooted in the 14th Amendment that grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. Trump acknowledged that this proposal may face legal challenges and hinted that it might require a constitutional amendment to be fully realized.
The financial implications of Trump’s immigration agenda are substantial. The American Immigration Council estimates that deporting all unauthorized immigrants could cost up to $88 billion annually. To support these efforts, Trump’s team, including incoming border czar Tom Homan, is calling for increased funding from Congress to enhance immigration enforcement operations.
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