United States President-elect Donald Trump outlined sweeping plans to address illegal immigration and extend pardons to individuals convicted in connection with the 2021 US Capitol riot during an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.
Trump revealed his intention to deport all immigrants living in the US illegally over the course of his upcoming four-year term. He described the situation as a national emergency, which he intends to address immediately upon taking office on January 20.
“I think you have to do it. It’s a very tough thing to do. You know, you have rules, regulations, laws,” Trump stated regarding his deportation plans.
According to estimates by the Department of Homeland Security, over 11 million people are in the US without legal status as of January 2022, a number likely higher today.
As part of his broader policy agenda, Trump revealed plans to issue executive orders addressing key areas such as immigration, energy, and the economy.
Trump affirmed that he would prioritize removing unauthorized immigrants but also expressed openness to negotiating protections for “Dreamers,” immigrants brought to the US as children. He reiterated his intention to deport undocumented immigrants, including those with US-born family members, while expressing a willingness to work with Democrats to provide support for “Dreamers.”
This comes after his previous attempts to dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides deportation relief for these immigrants, were blocked by the Supreme Court.
In addition to deportations, Trump plans to issue an executive order on his first day in office to end birthright citizenship, a policy that grants citizenship to anyone born in the US, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
This policy, rooted in the 14th Amendment and reinforced by a 1898 Supreme Court decision, has long been a point of contention for Trump. “We’re going to have to get it changed. We’ll maybe have to go back to the people, but we have to end it,” he said.
Trump acknowledged that this proposal could face legal challenges and might require a constitutional amendment to achieve.
The implementation of these immigration measures would come at a significant financial cost.
The American Immigration Council estimates that deporting all unauthorized immigrants would cost $88 billion annually.
Trump’s team, including incoming border czar Tom Homan, has called on Congress to provide increased funding for immigration enforcement.
Trump also discussed his plans for pardoning individuals convicted of crimes related to the January 6 Capitol riot. He criticized the treatment of those jailed, calling their conditions “filthy” and “disgusting,” and committed to reviewing their cases immediately after his inauguration.
“These people are living in hell. I’ll be acting very quickly, first day,” he pledged.
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The implementation of these measures would demand substantial financial resources.
The American Immigration Council estimates the cost of deporting all unauthorized immigrants at $88 billion annually. Trump’s team, including incoming border czar Tom Homan, has called on Congress to provide significant funding increases to support immigration enforcement efforts.
On foreign policy, Trump indicated that he would reduce aid to Ukraine, reaffirming his commitment to NATO, but stating that member nations must meet their financial obligations. He also stated that he would not impose restrictions on abortion pills, though his policies could evolve depending on circumstances.
Although Trump suggested that he would not initiate a Justice Department investigation into outgoing President Joe Biden, he maintained that some of his political adversaries, particularly those who investigated the Capitol riot, “should go to jail.”
However, he softened his tone, saying that “retribution will be through success” and that his focus would be on making the country successful rather than revisiting past disputes.
Trump also reiterated his commitment to protecting Social Security, vowing not to raise its eligibility age or cut benefits, while aiming to make the program “more efficient.” He defended his proposed tariffs on imports, acknowledging potential economic challenges but stating, “I can’t guarantee anything.”
As Trump prepares for his January 20 inauguration, his comments signal a presidency poised for immediate, significant action that could provoke both support and controversy across the political spectrum.
