Trump vows mass deportations, birthright citizenship reform

US President-elect Donald Trump has outlined his plans for a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration, aiming to deport all immigrants in the US without legal status over the course of his four-year term.

In an interview aired on Dec. 8 on NBC News‘ Meet the Press, Trump also expressed his desire to strike a deal to protect “Dreamer” immigrants, those brought to the US illegally as children.

Trump, who secured a second term with a strong promise to reduce illegal immigration, made it clear that his administration would focus on mass deportations, stating, “I think you have to do it. It’s a very tough thing to do. You know, you have to follow rules, regulations, laws.” While tackling the broader issue of illegal immigration, Trump emphasized his willingness to negotiate protections for “Dreamers,” a group he sought to deport during his first term but was thwarted by the Supreme Court in 2020.

In addition to deportations, Trump plans to take executive action on his first day in office to end birthright citizenship, which grants US citizenship to anyone born in the country regardless of their parents’ immigration status. “We’ll maybe have to go back to the people,” Trump said, suggesting that Republicans might need to pursue a constitutional amendment to end the practice, a process that would be both difficult and time-consuming.

The US Department of Homeland Security estimated that around 11 million immigrants were in the country illegally as of January 2022, although that number is likely higher today. Trump’s proposed approach to address the issue has already sparked debate, with experts estimating that deporting all illegal immigrants could cost the US $88 billion annually, over the course of more than a decade.

Trump’s incoming border czar, Tom Homan, and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller echoed his tough stance, telling Fox News that Congress should provide substantial funding to support the immigration enforcement effort. Homan called for as much funding as possible, saying, “We’re going to need as much money as Congress can get us,” to carry out the deportation plan.

As Trump prepares to take office on January 20, the nation braces for a fierce battle over immigration policies that are likely to face significant legal and political challenges.