Trump Plans Nation’s Biggest Deportation on Day 1, Spokesperson Reveals

As soon as he is inaugurated on January 20, 2025, President-elect Donald Trump plans to initiate his major deportation campaign against undocumented immigrants, despite opposition from human rights organizations.

Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s national press secretary, announced on Fox News Wednesday morning that “the American electorate has handed President Trump a decisive victory.”

“This victory is a mandate for him to govern based on his campaign commitments, which includes starting the largest mass deportation of illegal immigrants on his first day in office—immigrants that Kamala Harris has permitted to enter our nation,” Leavitt explained.

“Our straightforward message to President-elect Trump or his deputies, should they proceed with their appalling plans, is: We’ll meet you in court.”

Trump has vowed to execute the largest deportation in the history of the United States, with his running mate and now Vice President-elect JD Vance pledging to deport 1 million individuals annually. This strategy would likely involve the mobilization of federal agencies, the military, diplomats, and GOP-controlled states, along with leveraging federal money to coerce non-compliant states and cities.

Following Trump’s electoral victory, the stock prices for private prison corporations like GEOGroup and Core Civic surged, with contractors already discussing pre-election plans to expand detention facilities to support Trump’s deportation agenda.

An October study by the American Immigration Council found that a massive, one-off deportation of the estimated 13.3 million unauthorized immigrants would cost the government at least $315 billion. Conversely, a strategy of deporting 1 million people per year would amount to $88 billion annually, totaling $967.9 billion. Such plans would also reduce the national GDP by 4.2 to 6.8% and profoundly impact immigrant families, as approximately 5.1 million children who are U.S. citizens reside with at least one undocumented family member.

The council further cautioned that this approach would likely endanger the welfare of all immigrants and potentially increase acts of vigilantism and hate crimes.

“Considering the negative impacts on immigrants during Trump’s first term, we expect even harsher measures this time, particularly concerning the potential use of military forces to detain immigrants,” said Lee Gelernt, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union who previously challenged Trump’s administration on issues like family separation. “We will, as always, challenge any unlawful policies in court, but public opposition is equally crucial, as seen during the family separation backlash.”

Exit polls indicate that 56% of U.S. voters support offering immigrants a pathway to citizenship, and Data for Progress revealed that a majority oppose deportations for seven out of nine categories of potentially affected individuals.

The ACLU has called on cities and states to protect their undocumented residents before January 20.

“Municipalities must prepare for mass deportations because they will disrupt communities,” said Noreen Shah, ACLU’s director of government affairs for the equality division. “Imagine children returning from school to find their parents detained and not there to pick them up.”

Legal experts are particularly concerned about Trump potentially invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which allows for the deportation of noncitizens from ‘hostile’ nations and has been rarely used, most notably against Japanese Americans during World War II.

“There’s a real fear that the second Trump administration might use this law to justify indefinite detentions and swift deportations without judicial oversight,” Shah explained to Reuters.

The Brennan Center for Justice has urged Congress to repeal the act.

“This dangerous and shameful law has been in place for over 200 years. It’s past time for it to be repealed or overturned,” wrote Marcelo Agudo of the center.

Several organizations have pledged to continue defending the rights of immigrants and refugees following Trump’s declaration of victory.

“We have a clear message for President-elect Trump and his deputies if they implement their heinous plans: We’ll see you in court,” stated Karen Tumlin, founder and director of the Justice Action Center. “To immigrant communities, we send a message of love: we see you, we are you, and we stand with you.”

Describing Trump’s win as “one of the most perilous moments in our nation’s history,” Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, emphasized the organization’s readiness to respond. “Trump and his allies have made their intentions clear: massive deportations, ending birthright citizenship, denying public education to immigrant children, and even internment camps. We must take his words seriously and prepare accordingly,” Matos said.

She added, “We have always stood firm in our commitment to defend the rights of low-income immigrants and their families. We successfully opposed Donald Trump before, and we are prepared to do so again.”

The American Immigrant Lawyers Association (AILA) vowed to persist in advocating for its clients.

“The anti-immigrant policies proposed by candidate Trump would inflict irreversible harm on the American economy, communities, and character,” stated AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson. “AILA and its over 16,000 members will continue to uphold the Constitution and fight against any laws or policies that violate due process, civil rights, or diminish the contributions of immigrants. Our future prosperity depends on our unity and resilience.”

Refugees International reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the rights and refuge of displaced individuals.

“In the face of global displacement at historic levels, the upcoming Trump administration aims to enact an anti-refugee, anti-asylum agenda that will endanger millions,” said the organization’s president, Jeremy Konyndyk. “However, we remain hopeful and resolute in facing the challenges ahead.”

Konyndyk emphasized: “As with any administration, we will tirelessly work with all of you to protect and promote the rights and well-being of displaced persons.”

United We Dream, the largest U.S.-based organization led by immigrant youth, committed to forging the most extensive pro-immigrant movement in the nation’s history.

“Immigrant youth in United We Dream are hopeful yet realistic about the struggles ahead,” stated the group’s executive director, Greisa Martínez Rosas. “With Trump pledging the largest deportation effort ever—using military forces to raid our communities, schools, hospitals, and more to detain our people—we, the young, Black, brown, and queer leaders, are ready to face these challenges and protect our communities.”