Mass deportation looms as Trump plans to terminate birthright citizenship

By Olusola Oladipo

United States president-elect, Mr. Donald Trump, has announced plans of mass deportation for all illegal immigrants in the United States in the course of his four-year term.

Trump revealed this during an interview aired Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press”.

He proposed a total overhaul of the U.S. immigration system, saying he intends to classify it as a national emergency.

He noted that the overhaul will take effect when he assumes office on January 20, 2025.

In January 2022, Reuters quoted Department of Homeland Security as estimating that over 11 million people are in the U.S. without legal status.

The figure is deemed to be higher according to recent observations.

Trump affirmed 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,” he added.

While emphasising the need for enforcement, Trump signalled willingness to negotiate protections for “Dreamers”

“Dreamers” refers to immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children.

Supreme Court Blocked Deportation During Trump First Term

During his first term, Trump attempted to dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme.

The first programme provides deportation relief to this group, but was blocked by the Supreme Court.

It is also in Trump’s plan to issue an executive order to end birthright citizenship immediately he takes over.

The policy grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil regardless of their parents’ immigration status.

It is rooted in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution and reinforced by an 1898 Supreme Court decision.

“We’ll maybe have to go back to the people,” he said.

Trump, however, pointed out potential legal challenges to his mass deportation proposal.

He suggested that achieving this goal might require a constitutional amendment.

The implementation of these measures required substantial financial resources, according to the American Immigration Council.

The Council estimated the cost of deporting all unauthorized immigrants at $88 billion annually.

Trump’s team, including incoming border czar, Tom Homan, called on Congress to provide significant funding increases.

He said the funding will support immigration enforcement efforts in line with Trump’s mass deportation plans.

Olusola Oladipo, Kwara State.

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