Number: Trump wants to deport up to 20 million people, including undocumented immigrants and those with temporary legal status. This is more than any previous deportation effort and includes people who have lived in the U.S. for years. The immigration courts are already overwhelmed, and such a large-scale deportation plan would exacerbate the backlog in asylum system, necessitating a significant expansion of resources to handle the influx of new cases.

Trump’s Vision for Mass Deportations

• Broader Reach: Trump has promised the “biggest deportation program in U.S. history,” targeting undocumented immigrants, especially those accused of violent crimes. During the campaign he pointed to examples of undocumented immigrants to make his point, but some were debunked.
• Targeted Areas: Trump has named specific places like Springfield, Ohio and Aurora, Colorado as the first areas to focus on, saying he would take away temporary legal status from certain immigrant groups in those areas. His team has also mentioned deporting individuals with extremist ties, like “pro-Hamas radicals” from college campuses.
• Advisors: Trump’s campaign press secretary said his plan is total, he will use every federal and state resource to do mass deportations.

Military and Law Enforcement: President Donald Trump officials say he would use a wide range of resources to enforce deportations of unauthorized immigrants, including the U.S. military, National Guard and local law enforcement. This could mean extensive cooperation with state and local police to find and detain undocumented immigrants.

Executive Authority: Trump could use emergency powers and numerous executive orders and actions to speed up deportations and bypass some protections for undocumented immigrants. Legal scholars say he could use obscure wartime provisions that were used for mass detentions in the past, like during World War II for Japanese, German and Italian nationals.

More Contracts with Private Companies: The deportation process would likely involve private contractors for detention facilities, transportation and deportation flights. Private companies already manage many parts of immigration detention and this could increase if deportation efforts grow.

Historical Comparison: Trump’s plan is modeled after Eisenhower’s “Operation Wetback” in the 1950s where the U.S. forcibly deported people of Mexican descent, including U.S. citizens. But Trump’s is bigger and broader, targeting long-time residents and new arrivals.

More ICE: The new administration will remove the limits on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) put in place by the Biden administration so ICE will be more active against undocumented people in the U.S.

Alien Enemies Act: new Trump administration will use the Alien Enemies Act to target violent gangs like Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and cartel members with a focus on reducing organized crime in immigrant communities.

Experts say deporting 20 million people in 4 years is impossible without significant resources, an expanded law enforcement workforce and a lot of money: Mass deportations at this scale means massive arrests, detentions and immigration hearings. Each stage requires due process which means legal representation, appeal rights and judicial review. To achieve this scale would mean bypassing or stretching legal protections — which would be challenged in court.

Cost of Mass Deportations

• Cost Estimates: According to estimates by Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and the American Immigration Council, deporting 1 million people a year would cost $88 billion a year. Deporting the entire 11 million undocumented population would take 10 years and cost nearly $1 trillion.
• Detention Capacity: ICE currently has capacity for 41,500 people a day, it peaked at 55,000 during Trump’s first term. To support the scale Trump envisions, detention facilities would need a 24 fold increase in capacity which is logistically and financially impossible.
• Private Contractor Opportunities: Trump’s plan will create opportunities for private contractors in detention, transportation and security as private companies will be able to expand their role in detention facility management, flight operations for deportations and other services.

• Immigration advocates and civil rights groups will sue against mass deportation policies citing constitutional protections and due process rights. But Trump’s influence on the judiciary during his first term, including hundreds of conservative judges, may make it harder to do so. Legal advocacy groups like the ACLU are preparing to sue against mass deportations to defend constitutional rights like due process and protection against unreasonable search and seizure

• Some states and local governments will resist federal efforts, especially those with pro-immigrant policies. Local governments and advocacy organizations are preparing to counter deportations by offering legal resources and challenging enforcement in court. Local governments and immigrant communities are organizing resources to provide legal aid, rapid response networks and to educate immigrants about their rights.

Trump’s immigration enforcement plan includes a big increase in immigration enforcement with military and local police.

• Deploying Military and Law Enforcement: Trump’s plan includes using National Guard troops to assist in immigration enforcement, raids and detaining undocumented individuals with local law enforcement. Trump’s advisor Stephen Miller has talked about creating a new deportation force with military personnel and federal agents in states with cooperative officials.
• Sweeps and Raids: The plan would involve big raids in immigrant communities and workplaces, increasing the risk of wrongful arrests, racial profiling and rights violations.

• Limit Local Involvement: Many states and cities with pro-immigrant policies are preparing to opt out of mass deportations. They are passing laws and policies to prevent local law enforcement from being used in federal immigration enforcement.
• Documentation and Accountability: Legal organizations are organizing to document and challenge militarized enforcement abuses and ensure transparency and accountability.

Trump’s immigration plan includes ending asylum protections and revoking humanitarian protections for people from conflict zones.

• Title 42: Trump will revive Title 42, a public health policy implemented during COVID-19 that allowed for rapid removal of migrants. He will likely use it to block asylum claims broadly.
• Remain in Mexico Policy: Trump will bring back the policy forcing asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases are processed. Critics say this policy puts vulnerable people in harm’s way and limits access to legal assistance.
• Ending Asylum: Trump’s administration will end asylum for those seeking protection at the border. Asylum is a fundamental right under U.S. and international law for people fleeing persecution. Trump’s restrictions would severely limit asylum claims at U.S. borders, forcing migrants to stay in dangerous conditions in their home countries.
• TPS Protections: Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which allows people from countries in crisis to live in the U.S., would also be curtailed under Trump’s plan. Revoking TPS would affect hundreds of thousands of people who have lived in the U.S. for years, uprooting their lives and possibly forcing them to return to dangerous conditions.

• CBP One App: The Biden administration’s use of the CBP One app for hundreds of thousands of migrants could be severely limited or ended.
• Targeted Programs: Programs for 30,000 migrants per month from countries like Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela would be eliminated as Trump tightens border security.

Response:

• Court Intervention: Legal organizations are preparing to defend asylum and TPS.
• Legislative Advocacy: Immigration advocates are working with pro-immigrant lawmakers to protect TPS and asylum programs and the human rights of removing these protections.

The administration is also planning to take away certain rights from immigrant families, including birthright citizenship and public education for undocumented children.

• Birthright Citizenship: Trump wants to repeal birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented parents, challenging a long-standing interpretation of the 14th Amendment. If implemented, this policy would strip millions of U.S.-born children of their citizenship and create a generation without legal status.
• Public Education: Trump’s advisors have suggested revisiting the Plyler v. Doe decision which guarantees public education for all children. Cutting off education would force families to leave the country or not enroll their children in school, causing long-term harm to children’s education and social development.

Response:

• Constitutional Defense: Legal advocates will challenge attempts to restrict birthright citizenship which has constitutional roots and historical precedent.
• State Protections: States can pass laws affirming education for all children and set up systems to keep schools open and safe for undocumented.

• Screening Criteria: Trump will screen out individuals whose views he deems anti-American. This will target groups he has labeled as “communists, Marxists and socialists.”
• Student Visas: Trump will revoke student visas for individuals involved in pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel protests. Such criteria raises freedom of expression and the chilling effect on international students.

• Welfare Restrictions: Trump will re-impose a stricter public charge rule which will limit green cards for immigrants who are likely to use public assistance. This rule was designed to ensure self-sufficiency and will make it harder for low-income immigrants to get permanent residency.

• Targeted Travel Bans: Trump will bring back travel bans from countries he considers security threats. These bans will likely target countries with history of political instability or terrorism and restrict travel from those regions to the U.S.

• Tariff Threat: Trump will impose 25% tariff on all Mexican imports if Mexico doesn’t take more action to stop the flow of drugs and migrants into the U.S.
• Pressure: The goal is to get Mexico to increase border enforcement by using economic leverage to get cooperation on migration and crime.

• Wall Expansion: Trump will restart the U.S.-Mexico border wall which saw over 450 miles built during his first term.
• More Security: Trump will “fix our borders” and stop unauthorized entry, he says border security is key to American safety.

While Trump’s plans have practical and legal obstacles, his influence on the judiciary and potential congressional support will make it more doable this time around. But implementing such a massive program will require navigating logistical challenges, getting funding and overcoming legal hurdles.

Congress will have a big role in responding to Trump’s immigration plans. Lawmakers can limit funding, exercise oversight and shape legislation.

• Funding Control: Congress can restrict funding for immigration enforcement and detention facilities which will limit the scale of Trump’s deportation efforts. By blocking additional funding for ICE and CBP, Congress can limit the capacity for mass deportations and detention camp expansions.
• Oversight and Accountability: Congress can exercise oversight by holding hearings, issuing subpoenas and holding federal agencies accountable for civil rights. Pro-immigrant lawmakers are working to hold agencies accountable for any abuse.
• Alternative Legislation: Pro-immigrant lawmakers are pushing for legislation that provides clear immigration pathways, protects families and humane border management.

A big part of resisting Trump’s immigration agenda is to change the national conversation around immigration.

• Public Education and Awareness: Advocates are educating the public about the contributions of immigrants and the harm of extreme enforcement. By sharing stories of immigrant families and American values, advocates hope to counter xenophobic narratives.
• Polling and Research: Studies show most Americans support balanced immigration policies with a path to citizenship and humane treatment of immigrants. Advocates are using this data to drive public campaigns and legislative agendas.

Response:

• Community Engagement: Advocacy groups are mobilizing local communities to support inclusive immigration reforms and counteract fear-based narratives.
• Advocating for Humane Policies: By pushing for fair and humane immigration policies, advocates will shape future immigration reforms and protect all residents.

With Donald Trump’s election, the Biden administration is preparing for a border surge at the southern border as immigrants try to get in before Trump’s policies kick in.

• Last-Minute Entries: With Trump’s tougher border policies coming, some experts say there could be a wave of migrants trying to get into the U.S. before he takes office. This “last-chance” influx will put more pressure on already overwhelmed border resources.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has started developing contingency plans, expecting some migrants to try to get into the U.S. before the inauguration, fearing Trump’s policies.

• Planning Session: DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas met with CBP and ICE officials to discuss preparing for a migrant surge. Topics included ICE bed space, managing asylum claims and processing times for those not eligible for asylum.
• Capacity Issues: Can DHS process a surge of migrants fast enough to avoid releasing into the U.S. due to capacity?

• WhatsApp Activity: Since Trump’s election, immigrants and smugglers have been messaging on WhatsApp saying “now is the time to come to the U.S.” These messages are common on migrant routes and reflect fear that Trump will close the border as soon as he’s in office.
• Misinformation Spreading: Messages on WhatsApp are spreading false information, some saying the cutoff is January 10 instead of January 20, Trump’s inauguration date.

Don’t Enter Illegally: A CBP spokesperson told migrants to use safe and legal entry methods and not to believe smugglers. CBP said U.S. immigration laws are still in effect and migrants should use legal channels.

• Shelters in Mexico on High Alert: Shelters along the U.S.-Mexico border are preparing for a surge of migrants seeking temporary housing before trying to get into the U.S.
• Shelter Operators Worried: In Tijuana, Gustavo Banda, who runs the Templo Embajadores de Jesus shelter housing around 1,400 migrants, said smugglers, or “coyotes,” will pressure migrants to try to get in before Trump takes office. Despite the uncertainty, Banda is trying to keep migrants calm and remind them no policies have changed yet.
• Nogales Shelter Ready: Francisco Loureiro, who runs a shelter in Nogales, has seen increased anxiety among migrants, many of whom use CBP’s ONE app for asylum appointments. He’s recently prepared his facility for an influx.

• From Chiapas: A caravan has recently left Chiapas, near the Guatemala border, and is moving north. Caravans are common but the timing has raised concerns that more migrants will head to northern border areas like Nogales before Trump’s policies kick in.