In the final month of the presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump has reiterated his promise to carry out the largest mass deportation effort in American history. Trump’s statements at recent rallies in Reading, Pennsylvania, and Aurora, Colorado, have sparked applause from supporters, but immigration researchers, lawyers, and economists have raised concerns about the constitutional, humanitarian, and economic challenges of such a plan. An analysis by CBS News reveals that deporting 11 million undocumented immigrants would require significant funding and time, making it nearly impossible to achieve within four years.
The cost of deporting even 1 million individuals is estimated to be around $20 billion, highlighting the financial burden that mass deportation would place on taxpayers. Despite Trump’s promises, his administration deported far fewer individuals than anticipated during his time in office. Additionally, diverting resources to the southern border and pandemic-related removals have driven up the cost per deportation. The total estimated cost of deporting 11 million people ranges from $40 billion to $216 billion annually, with significant implications for government spending, social programs, and infrastructure projects.
Experts caution that Trump’s proposal to involve local law enforcement in mass deportation efforts may face logistical and legal challenges. Local police and sheriffs have historically shown varying levels of cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, potentially hindering the success of large-scale removal operations. Racial profiling and civil liberties violations are also concerns that could arise from such a drastic enforcement strategy. Immigration courts already face a backlog of 3.7 million cases, and expanding the judiciary to handle 11 million new cases would be a monumental task.
In addition to the budgetary and logistical challenges, mass deportation could have a negative impact on the U.S. economy and job market. Studies suggest that deportations could lead to a decrease in GDP and employment rates, while also disrupting mixed-status families and separating millions of individuals. The social and emotional costs of deportations, especially on children, spouses, and affected individuals, are expected to be significant. Ultimately, the high economic, social, and emotional costs associated with mass deportation raise serious questions about the feasibility and morality of such a policy proposal.
