More information has been revealed about President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to carry out what he says will be the largest deportation in U.S. history. According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump’s team wants to use military bases for migrant detention and military planes to help with the deportations.
The team said the plan is possible by issuing a national emergency declaration at the border on Trump’s first day in office.
Trump’s advisers also think the emergency declaration would lead to him being able to move money from the Pentagon. The money would pay for wall construction and help with migrant detention and deportation.
However, the American Immigration Council said the deportation plan could cost $968 billion.
“It’s not a question of a price tag. It’s not — really, we have no choice,” Trump told NBC News after winning the election. “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.”
Sources tell the Journal that Trump’s primary focus is on the estimated 1.3 million migrants who have gotten final deportation orders and those with criminal convictions or charges.
Trump’s transition team is considering ending two Biden administration immigration programs. The first is the CBP One, the other is the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela parole program.
Those in the programs may be exempt from deportation if they already have asylum.
The two programs have been a part of Biden’s strategy to increase the number of legal routes for migrants to enter the U.S.
