Donald Trump has reaffirmed his intent to implement a sweeping mass deportation program upon assuming office, potentially using National Guard troops and detention infrastructure to expel millions of undocumented immigrants.
Trump’s proposal has raised questions about its feasibility, legality, and potential consequences, but his team has reportedly suggested that the mass deportation could be executed under wartime powers, with military involvement to enforce deportation orders.
Republican-controlled states are expected to provide support, while Democratic-governed states are likely to resist, creating potential legal and political clashes.
To lead this initiative, Trump has appointed several hardliners to key roles. Former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director Tom Homan has been named “border czar,” tasked with overseeing deportation efforts.
Stephen Miller, a prominent figure from Trump’s first administration and architect of contentious policies such as family separation, will serve as deputy chief of staff for policy and a homeland security adviser. Kristi Noem, the South Dakota governor known for her firm stance on immigration, has been nominated to head the Department of Homeland Security.
The programme faces substantial logistical hurdles, with experts warning of high costs and infrastructure demands. Estimates suggest that deporting one million people annually could cost nearly $1 trillion over a decade.
Trump has indicated the initiative may target between 15 and 20 million undocumented individuals, though independent analyses suggest the undocumented population in the US stands at approximately 11 million. Many of these individuals have lived in the US for decades, contributing to the economy and raising families that include US citizens.
Trump has also proposed building large-scale detention centres and deploying National Guard troops from Republican states into Democratic ones that decline to participate in enforcement efforts. Critics have raised concerns over the legality of such measures, with some Democratic leaders signalling non-cooperation with the administration's deportation agenda.
Policy experts have highlighted potential disruptions to communities and businesses reliant on immigrant labour, as well as the broader social impact of separating families. The fate of Dreamers, young adults brought to the US as children and protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, also remains uncertain.
Trump’s campaign rhetoric has avoided clear distinctions between undocumented immigrants and those with lawful status, fuelling fears that DACA recipients may be included in the deportation sweep.
The proposal comes amid a broader debate over immigration, with record migration levels observed in 2022 and 2023 before declining in 2024 under the Biden administration’s stricter border policies. Despite evidence showing that immigrants contribute positively to communities and commit crimes at lower rates than US citizens, Trump has continued to link immigration to crime and economic strain.
While Trump and his advisors maintain that the plan is necessary to address crime and national security concerns, its unprecedented scope and reliance on military assets are expected to ignite fierce legal and political battles. The programme’s implementation, if pursued, could reshape immigration enforcement in the US and deepen partisan divides.