In his first 100 days, President-elect Donald Trump is gearing up to implement a series of aggressive immigration policies. One of the key initiatives on his agenda is the mass deportation of hundreds of thousands of individuals residing in the United States without legal authorization. Trump plans to prioritize individuals with criminal convictions and final removal orders for deportation, a process that could take years given the sheer number of cases involved.
To assist in this massive deportation effort, Trump has appointed South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security, despite her lack of experience in the department. Stephen Miller, known as the architect of Trump’s first-term immigration policies, will play a significant role in shaping domestic policy from within the White House. Additionally, Thomas Homan, a former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Trump, is returning to serve as the administration’s border czar.
The logistical challenges of mass deportation are significant, ranging from expanding detention capacity to addressing the immigration court backlog. With approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., the process of locating, detaining, and removing individuals will be resource-intensive and complex. Despite these challenges, Trump remains resolute in his commitment to deportation, emphasizing the need to prioritize public safety and national security.
In addition to ramping up deportations, Trump’s team is expected to end the parole program for individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. This program allowed certain individuals to enter the U.S. legally for humanitarian reasons, but Trump aims to revoke these privileges swiftly. The administration also plans to roll back the Mayorkas memo, which laid out priorities for deportation and emphasized a comprehensive review of individuals’ circumstances before deportation decisions were made.
Furthermore, the Trump administration is likely to deactivate the CBP One app, which was introduced by the Biden administration to facilitate asylum applications. Republicans criticized the app as a means to expedite the entry of unauthorized individuals into the U.S., prompting its potential elimination under Trump’s leadership.
To address challenges related to repatriating unwanted migrants, the Trump administration may resort to diplomatic pressure tactics, threatening sanctions against countries that refuse to accept deported individuals. This strategy aims to compel cooperation from foreign governments and expedite the deportation process.
Overall, Trump’s immigration team faces a myriad of legal, logistical, and diplomatic challenges as they seek to implement their ambitious agenda within the first 100 days of the new administration. With a focus on prioritizing national security and public safety, the administration is poised to make significant changes to existing immigration policies and procedures.
