Trump Promises Mass Deportations of Immigrants if Reelected.
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump, a vocal opponent of immigration, announced Wednesday that he plans to deport hundreds of thousands of immigrants who arrived in the U.S. under two Biden administration programs if he wins the presidency again.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump criticized the two programs designed to manage migrant entry and reduce chaos at the southern border. He stated, “Get ready to leave because you’re going to be going out real fast,” referring to over 1 million people who have entered the country under these initiatives.
Trump has previously pledged to enforce strict immigration policies if reelected, including mass deportations. While he made similar commitments during past campaigns, his administration did not exceed 350,000 deportations during his term.
One of the Biden programs allows migrants from as far south as the Guatemalan border to use a smartphone app called CBP One to schedule asylum appointments at U.S. border crossings. Since its launch in January 2023, about 813,000 migrants have utilized this system.
Another program enables 30,000 monthly entrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to come to the U.S. if they have financial sponsors, pass background checks, and book flights to American airports, rather than heading to the southern border. Approximately 530,000 individuals have benefited from this program.
Both initiatives grant humanitarian parole for two years, which the Biden administration argues helps manage border chaos, disrupts smuggling operations, and allows for better vetting of migrants.
However, critics, including Republican leaders, claim these programs bypass existing immigration laws established by Congress and allow entry to individuals who would not otherwise qualify. Republican-led states have initiated lawsuits against both policies.
In his renewed campaign, Trump and his chief immigration advisor, Stephen Miller, are detailing plans for mass deportations, including the use of wartime powers and military support.
Experts warn that large-scale deportations could face significant legal, logistical, and financial obstacles. Immigration advocacy groups express concern that Trump’s rhetoric instills fear in migrant communities.
Esther Sung, legal director for the Justice Action Center, noted that the humanitarian parole authority has been used by both parties for over 70 years without attempts to rescind it on the scale Trump proposes. She emphasized that this authority helps families reunite, protects those fleeing persecution, and addresses labor shortages.
“Immigrants strengthen the communities they join and our economy,” Sung stated. “This is not only fear-mongering but also extreme, unprecedented, and simply cruel.”
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