Donald Trump campaigned on the promise of mass deportations, and recently stated that his administration plans to use the U.S. military to carry out this expulsion of millions of individuals, many of whom have resided in America for extended periods.
Historically, the U.S. military has not been involved in immigration enforcement or law enforcement activities.
Despite the Pentagon’s public dismissal of Trump’s idea to use the military for mass deportations, Trump has expressed support for using military assets for this purpose. Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Republican lawmakers in Arizona have also advocated for using military forces for deportation efforts.
Trump has previously declared his intention to launch the largest deportation program in American history on Day One of his presidency. He referenced a past operation called “Operation Wetback” as a model for his plans.
Thomas Homan, Trump’s former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has mentioned plans to utilize U.S. troops for deportation activities.
Estimates suggest that a mass deportation operation of the scale proposed by Trump would incur significant costs, with a one-time operation costing billions and a longer-term project costing even more.
Overall, the proposal to use the military for mass deportations has been met with skepticism and criticism from various officials and analysts.
In 2022, the prison system held a total of 1.9 million people. Additionally, removing an estimated 5 percent of the American workforce from the country could have significant economic implications, as these individuals collectively pay over $105 billion in taxes each year.
Trump’s representatives did not provide details on the cost of the deportation plan or the specific role of the military in the process.
A onetime mass deportation operation would cost at least $315 billion, according to a recent analysis.
In 2023, Stephen Miller, Trump’s top immigration policy adviser, suggested that military funding would be used to construct large holding facilities to serve as staging centers for immigrants awaiting deportation. Trump also promised to utilize the National Guard to support his deportation efforts. Experts believe that involving the military in deportation activities would represent a significant departure from their usual duties.
Trump also mentioned his intention to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expel suspected members of drug cartels without due process. This law allows for the summary deportation of individuals from countries at war with the U.S., those that have invaded the country, or those that have committed predatory actions.
Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, expressed concerns about the potential impact of Trump’s immigration policies, stating that they could fundamentally alter American life for millions of people.
During his first term, Trump deported approximately 1.5 million immigrants. The Biden administration is projected to deport a similar number of individuals.
