Donald Trump is preparing to deport millions of undocumented immigrants after his inauguration - the biggest action against illegal immigrants in the US in over half a century.
The move, that Trump said “has no price tag,” would come alongside the restoration of the “remain in Mexico” policy requiring migrants seeking asylum to stay in Mexico until their court date.
He will also seek to expedite drilling and fracking and reverse orders signed by President Biden.
New policy advisers are currently drawing up numerous other executive orders for him to sign when he takes office.
Trump has pledged to deport millions of illegal immigrants
ReutersKaroline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump’s transition team, told Fox News: “This man is already working around the clock.”
The American Immigration Council, a pro-immigration think tank, has estimated that this action could cost up to $315billion dollars, including economic costs on a larger scale through the impact on the US labour market.
It warned: “There would be no way to accomplish this mission without mass detention as an interim step.”
However, Trump promised that his plan would be implemented whatever the cost. He told NBC reporters: “Really, we have no choice. When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they’re going to go back to those countries because they’re not staying here. There is no price tag.”
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He added: “I will govern by a simple motto: promises made, promises kept.”
The action would mark the largest removal of illegal immigrants since Eisenhower’s administration deported over one million Mexican nationals in the 1950s.
Meanwhile, the deportation vow has caused conflict with Democratic state officials who are determined to resist amid reports that Trump’s new administration would defund cities, states and law enforcement that operated sanctuary policies for immigrants.
Democratic politicians in states including California and New York - which have large immigrant populations - have come out against Trump’s plan.
Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles said: “No matter where you were born, how you came to this country, how you worship or who you love, Los Angeles will stand with you.”
Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles
PA
Governor Gavin Newsom also hit back at Trump’s incoming policies, calling a special state legislative session to take place in December to discuss the safeguarding of California’s values in the face of Trump’s administration.
Kathy Hochul, the Democratic governor of New York, vowed to protect her state’s people. “If you try to harm New Yorkers or roll back their rights, I will fight you every step of the way,” she said.
