If former President Donald Trump is reelected, he has vowed to implement a mass deportation strategy that would carry a significant financial burden. According to the American Immigration Council, the annual expense for deporting one million individuals could reach $88 billion. Furthermore, the expulsion of millions of workers in sectors like construction, hospitality, and agriculture might lead to a staggering decline of $1.7 trillion in the U.S. gross domestic product.
Tom Homan, who headed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trump’s initial term, expressed uncertainty about the accuracy of the $88 billion annual cost estimate. However, he emphasized the importance of mass deportation. How do you quantify national security? Is it a price worth paying? Homan remarked.
The current process of deportation
Recently, 60 Minutes accompanied ICE agents in Silver Spring, Maryland, where they apprehended undocumented immigrants who had prior criminal records, including offenses such as assault, robbery, and drug and firearm-related crimes. These individuals had been flagged by ICE as potential dangers to community safety.
Authorities intercepted a van and took into custody a 24-year-old Guatemalan passenger who had a prior assault conviction and was previously ordered to be deported by a judge five years earlier. According to ICE officials, the van’s driver was also residing in the country unlawfully and had faced deportation in the past; however, he was released. Matt Elliston, head of ICE’s Baltimore field office, noted that the driver lacked any criminal history.
He was simply giving his employee a ride to work, Elliston explained. There’s no reason to occupy a detention bed for someone like him when we have actual felons to apprehend today. He emphasized that ICE’s objective is focused enforcement, utilizing immigration laws to enhance public safety. Our goal isn’t to randomly detain anyone we encounter, he added. A team of over twelve officers dedicated seven hours to apprehending six individuals, not counting the extensive time spent in their search.
Are there available resources to facilitate large-scale deportations?
Over 11 million undocumented immigrants reside in the United States, making up roughly three percent of the population. Trump has promised to initiate the most extensive mass deportation effort ever seen in the country. Homan, whom Trump mentioned would accompany him should he secure a second term, stated that he is not aware of any formal written plan for mass deportation.
Homan stated that ICE excels in these operations, as it’s their primary function. However, Elliston is uncertain about how the agency could secure the necessary resources for large-scale deportations in Maryland.
He stated that the financial resources required to detain everyone would be comparable to the budget typically allocated by the Department of Defense.
According to Jason Houser, who served as the chief of staff for ICE in the initial two years of the Biden administration, the expense for detaining individuals similar to those featured in the 60 Minutes report is $150 per night. On average, these individuals remain in detention for about 46 days while they await deportation. The cost of a single deportation flight can reach up to $250,000, provided that the individual’s home country agrees to accept them. However, countries such as Cuba and Venezuela often refuse repatriation.
Who would be responsible for managing large-scale deportations?
According to Houser, ICE presently employs approximately 6,000 law enforcement officials within its deportation division. To apprehend and remove a million individuals annually would necessitate a substantial boost in personnel.
He mentioned that there are 100,000 individuals in official roles, including police officers, detention personnel, support staff, and management.
Stephen Miller, an advisor to Trump, suggested that personnel might be sourced from other federal agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration. However, Houser expressed disapproval of the notion of diverting individuals from their established duties in agencies outside of ICE.
Enforcing immigration laws demands specific training and language proficiency that many military and law enforcement personnel lack. Elliston remarked, Transitioning to this role is not straightforward. Based on the Immigration and Nationality Act, I can assure you that immigration law is only slightly less complicated than the U.S. tax code.