The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump is preparing for a massive deportation operation, potentially involving the U.S. military. Trump’s promise of carrying out the largest deportation in U.S. history raises concerns regarding the legality and execution of such a process, with some experts questioning how the military might be utilized.
During his presidential campaign, Trump stated that illegal immigration was the greatest problem facing America. “We will carry out the largest deportation in history. I’m not proud to say it, but it’s something difficult that must be done,” Trump said in May 2024. Following his victory in the November 5th elections, Trump announced plans to declare a national emergency and deploy U.S. troops to assist in executing deportations.
However, the specifics of how the military would be involved remain unclear. Professor Joseph Nunn of New York University’s law department explained that it depends on the President’s intentions—whether the military would be directly involved in law enforcement or provide indirect support in the federal deportation operation.
Tom Homan, expected to become the new national immigration chief, has expressed plans for a more aggressive approach, citing previous deportation operations and the increased involvement of the military. “We will carry out a mass deportation operation and will seek out over 300,000 children released by this administration,” Homan stated.
According to a report from the Department of Homeland Security, more than 32,000 unaccompanied minors failed to appear in court on their scheduled dates, while over 290,000 did not receive notifications. Immigration experts argue that this doesn’t necessarily mean these individuals have disappeared, and some may still be at their registered addresses.
“There are alternatives to mass deportation. Congress could create a new form of permanent legal status, allowing many people already living here to apply, undergo background checks, pay a fee, and receive proper documentation,” said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council.
This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee discussed the challenges of mass deportations. Democrats warned that such actions could harm the economy. “It is a fact that millions of undocumented immigrants are in the United States today, working in critical industries for our economy,” said Democratic Senator Alex Padilla.
Republicans stressed the importance of enforcing the law. “We will enforce court orders for deportation and will not accept lawlessness and criminality as the new normal in the United States,” said Republican Senator John Cornyn.
Federal laws limit the military’s involvement in enforcing civil laws without Congressional approval, but emergency powers would allow the President to deploy military forces for logistical support. Some experts argue that soldiers lack the training to enforce immigration laws effectively. “Every service member sent on a mass deportation mission is one less soldier performing their primary role in national security,” stated Professor Nunn.
In response to the impending operation, the state of Texas has offered more than 550 acres of land to the incoming Trump administration for the construction of a detention and processing facility. The state’s land commissioner referred to it as “the largest mass deportation of violent criminals in our nation’s history.”
