Among the most talked-about promises made by President-elect Donald Trump is his pledge to deport millions of people.
Immigration was a huge topic during the election, and Trump made it clear that cracking down on illegal immigration would be a top priority once he stepped foot in the Oval Office.
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Many are wondering what his immigration policy will look like based on his rhetoric about the border and illegal immigration, especially in Texas, with its large immigrant population and lingering border issues.
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So, let’s break down some of the big claims about Trump’s mass deportation plan and separate the facts from the fiction.
- Trump said there is ‘no price tag’ on mass deportations: Fact (But it will be expensive)
Trump told NBC News there is “no price tag” on his deportation plans. The reality is that mass deportations are very expensive. Trump has promised the “largest deportation operation in the history of our country,” and the costs could run into the billions.
According to the American Immigration Council, about 11 million undocumented immigrants live in the U.S. as of 2022, with an additional 2.3 million immigrants reported in 2023-2024. A mass deportation effort targeting these 13.3 million people would cost at least $315 billion for arrests, detentions, legal processing, and removals. Deporting one million immigrants per year would cost $88 billion annually, primarily for detention facilities.
- Will DACA recipients be targeted in deportations? Uncertain
Trump has made it clear that he wants to undo the Obama-era DACA program, which protects young people brought to the U.S. as children from deportation.
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During his first term in 2017, he attempted to rescind DACA, but the Supreme Court ruled against him in 2020. With the current conservative majority on the Court, it’s possible that Trump’s administration could push harder to end DACA during his upcoming term.
Most recently, a Trump-appointed judge blocked a different immigration policy. This policy was the Biden administration’s “Keep Families Together” policy. It aimed to help undocumented immigrants who are married to U.S. citizens apply for legal status. This ruling highlights the ongoing influence of the judiciary on immigration policy, especially in states like Texas, where conservative-leaning courts play a crucial role in shaping immigration laws.
For now, though, the future of DACA recipients remains uncertain.
- Trump’s mass deportation plan will disproportionately affect Texas. Fact
Texas, with its 1,254-mile border stretching from the Gulf of México to El Paso and its large immigrant population, could be ground zero for Trump’s mass deportation plans.
As reported by the Texas Tribune, Governor Abbott has made it clear that Texas will keep up its border crackdown until there’s a president in office who enforces immigration laws. He’s also said the state won’t stop its efforts until it has full control of the border. With around 1.6 million undocumented immigrants living in Texas—second only to California—any push for mass deportations would have a huge impact, especially since many of these immigrants have lived in the state for years and have strong ties to their communities through families, jobs, and local connections.
What’s next?
As the Trump administration prepares to take action on its mass deportation agenda, there are many uncertainties about the exact scope, logistics, and financial costs involved. However, what is clear is that the impact will be significant, especially for immigrant communities in Texas.
While the future of DACA recipients remains in limbo and the costs of deportation could soar into the billions, one thing is certain: Texas will play a central role in how these policies are implemented and contested in the coming years.
