TLDR:
• Trump advisers weigh deportation costs
• Mass deportation needs emergency funds
• New fees proposed to fund immigration
WASHINGTON (The Thursday Times) — Advisers to President-elect Donald Trump are advancing plans for a large-scale deportation initiative, including exploring financial strategies and examining whether a national emergency declaration could enable the use of military resources for migrant detention and deportation. These discussions, which began before the election and have accelerated after Trump’s victory, focus on policies that would ramp up deportations while scrutinizing the operational costs associated with the effort.
In these talks, Trump’s team is considering policy changes to speed up immigration court cases and repeal certain Biden administration directives, specifically those advising Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) not to pursue non-criminal immigrants. Among their early targets are the estimated 1.3 million immigrants with final deportation orders and those with criminal records. The potential declaration of a national emergency on day one is under review, as it would allow funding from the Department of Defense to be redirected toward building detention facilities and transporting deportees.
An essential component of the plan is addressing the significant financial requirements. Recent estimates from immigration policy groups suggest that deporting all unauthorised immigrants could cost around $968 billion over a decade. Trump’s team, however, downplays the price, indicating they see mass deportation as a necessity. To manage expenses, officials propose instituting new fees at various stages of the immigration process, such as asylum applications and immigration court appearances, aiming to offset costs.
Former key officials from Trump’s first administration are expected to play prominent roles, with figures like Tom Homan anticipated to oversee border security. Additionally, proposals include the reintroduction of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, revisions to asylum protections, and expanded use of military bases for detention.
Congressional support
Trump’s team anticipates logistical challenges, especially in states that might resist collaboration with federal authorities. Republican lawmakers are positioning themselves to support the plan through the reconciliation process, bypassing Democratic votes. This approach aligns with Trump’s broader immigration policy, prioritising border fortifications and resuming the construction of the border wall.
Policy proposals include retracting protective statuses for many migrants, specifically Temporary Protected Status and Humanitarian Parole, which have granted refuge to populations from countries like Haiti, Venezuela, and Ukraine. Trump’s advisers suggest offering these groups a voluntary departure option that avoids the typical ten-year visa reentry ban, aiming to reduce resistance by incentivising voluntary compliance.
Republican leaders in Congress are advocating for budgetary measures to fund Trump’s immigration goals while concurrently pushing energy and tax policy priorities. Border resources would be fortified through new detection technology and personnel hiring, alongside the reactivation of Trump’s border wall construction.
Trump’s resurgence in the White House may mark an aggressive shift in immigration policies, with broad implications for the U.S. economy and migrant families. While his team faces financial and logistical hurdles, the administration remains firm on its objectives, framing immigration enforcement as a pivotal step toward stabilising national security.
