Donald J. Trump has promised to deport “nearly 20 million” illegal immigrants from the country if elected in November, following on from his last term in office, where illegal immigration was drastically curbed.
Corroborating Trump’s statement, Eric Ruark, the director of research at NumbersUSA, highlighted to the New York Post the potential scale of the illegal migration problem, suggesting that it could range from 15 to 20 million, a figure that surpasses the official estimate of 11 million provided by the Census Bureau.
In a candid interview with TIME magazine, President Trump outlined his proactive strategy to enlist the support of local law enforcement, the National Guard, and even the U.S. military to execute his deportation plan. While specific details of the plan have not yet been disclosed, ICE officials cautioned that its successful implementation would require substantial investments in ICE and border security funding.
Former acting ICE director Tom Homan prioritized the removal of criminals and national security threats, while asserting that no illegal migrant should be exempt from potential deportation, as they have violated the nation’s laws – in his words, “if you’re in this country illegally… we’ll remove you.”
Expressing his readiness to serve again under a second Trump administration, Homan underscored the imperative of adopting a comprehensive government approach to immigration enforcement. Jon Feere, former ICE chief of staff, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of concerted efforts across various government agencies to effectively combat illegal immigration and safeguard national security and stating that “every part of the government can assist in reducing illegal immigration.”
Feere cautioned that states refusing to cooperate with federal law enforcement would likely face “an increase in operations within their communities.”
Trump’s resolute stance on immigration and border security has struck a chord with many Americans, with a recent ABC News poll giving him a 17-point lead on immigration.