President-elect Donald Trump has outlined plans to deport all undocumented immigrants in the United States over his upcoming four-year term.
In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press aired Sunday, Trump described his intention to treat illegal immigration as a national emergency once he assumes office on January 20.
As of January 2022, the Department of Homeland Security estimated that over 11 million people were living in the U.S. without legal status, with the current figure likely higher, according to Reuters. While emphasizing strict enforcement, Trump expressed openness to negotiating protections for “Dreamers,” individuals 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 shields this group from deportation, but his efforts were blocked by the Supreme Court. He now plans to issue an executive order on his first day in office to end birthright citizenship, which grants citizenship to individuals born on U.S. soil regardless of their parents' immigration status.
Trump defended his stance on 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.” Birthright citizenship is currently upheld by the 14th Amendment of the Constitution and a 1898 Supreme Court ruling. Trump acknowledged the legal hurdles his proposal might face and suggested it could require a constitutional amendment.
These policies would require significant financial investment. The American Immigration Council estimates the cost of deporting all undocumented immigrants at $88 billion annually. To address this, Trump’s team, including incoming border czar Tom Homan, is urging Congress to approve increased funding for immigration enforcement.
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