US President-elect Donald Trump has unveiled plans to deport all unauthorized immigrants during his upcoming four-year term, marking a significant shift in US immigration policy. In an interview aired Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump outlined his strategy for a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration, which he intends to declare a national emergency upon taking office on January 20.
According to estimates from the Department of Homeland Security, over 11 million people were living in the United States without legal status as of January 2022, with the current number likely higher.
Trump confirmed 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 emphasizing strict enforcement, Trump also signaled a willingness to negotiate protections for “Dreamers” — immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. During his first term, Trump sought to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides deportation relief to this group, though the Supreme Court blocked his attempt.
In addition to mass deportations, Trump plans to issue an executive order on his first day in office to end birthright citizenship, which grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil regardless of their parents’ immigration status. This policy is based on the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and an 1898 Supreme Court decision. Trump suggested that achieving this goal might require a constitutional amendment, acknowledging potential legal challenges.
The implementation of these proposals would require substantial financial resources. The American Immigration Council estimates the cost of deporting all unauthorized immigrants at $88 billion annually. Trump’s team, including incoming border czar Tom Homan, has called on Congress to provide significant funding increases to support these immigration enforcement efforts.
