Trump’s Mass Deportation Plan Could Cost Nearly $1 Trillion, Report Says.
SAN DIEGO — Former President Donald Trump has pledged to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history if he is re-elected. A new report has revealed the potential financial implications of this plan.
The American Immigration Council, a non-profit organization based in Washington D.C. that advocates for immigrant rights, estimates that mass deportation could cost around $88 billion annually, totaling nearly $1 trillion over ten years. This figure comes from an analysis of federal budget documents, government reports, and inspector general investigations.
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, stated, “If anything, this is a conservative estimate.” He highlighted the high costs associated with detaining a million individuals, noting that it is a significant financial undertaking. Currently, about 1.9 million people are held in custody each day across the U.S.
“Detaining a million immigrants would require expanding our capacity by 50 to 60 percent compared to the current system,” Reichlin-Melnick explained. “This country already has high incarceration rates, and adding more detainees would incur substantial costs.”
On the other hand, some view the issue through the lens of safety and security. Tom Homan, former Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during Trump’s presidency, shared his perspective during a recent interview with 60 Minutes.
“It’s illegal to enter the country without authorization, and that is a crime,” Homan told reporter Cecilia Vega. “When there are no consequences, it encourages illegal immigration. The Biden-Harris administration has demonstrated this by allowing individuals to turn themselves in at the border and be released within 24 hours.”
Homan clarified that the approach would not involve sweeping raids in neighborhoods or the creation of concentration camps. “Those claims are ridiculous,” he said. “There will be targeted arrests based on investigative processes that identify where we can find individuals.”
As discussions continue around immigration policy and enforcement, the financial and social implications of these proposals remain significant topics of debate.
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