Trump Facing Troubling New Roadblock
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to tackle illegal immigration head-on, pledging one of the largest deportation operations in U.S. history. His vision includes sweeping measures to remove millions of undocumented immigrants from the country—a bold ambition that faces both practical and legal hurdles. While Trump’s tough stance on immigration has galvanized many conservatives, the reality of implementing such aggressive policies is fraught with complications.
During his first term, Trump’s immigration agenda often collided with the judicial system, where courts struck down key policies on technicalities or constitutional grounds. Now, as he prepares for a second term, Trump faces the challenge of expanding deportations while ensuring they are legally and logistically feasible.
A major hurdle is the sheer scale of the task. While Trump has vowed to deport all 13 million undocumented immigrants, executing such a program would require massive resources—far beyond what the government currently allocates for immigration enforcement. The Biden administration’s record-breaking 271,484 deportations in 2024 already strained resources, and scaling up the operation would demand a substantial budget increase. Estimates suggest deporting 1 million people annually could cost around $88 billion, nearly the entire budget of the Department of Homeland Security.
For Trump’s plan to succeed, it would require thousands of additional immigration agents, detention facilities, and extensive coordination between local and federal authorities. However, budgetary constraints in Congress could limit how much Trump can do. Border enforcement czar Tom Homan has acknowledged that any major deportation effort will depend heavily on funding, but he has pledged to target all immigrants without legal status, not just those with criminal backgrounds.
The legal challenges are just as daunting. Trump’s desire to revoke birthright citizenship, for example, would require a constitutional amendment, a process that is notoriously difficult and politically divisive. His proposals to use military force for deportations also face significant legal opposition, as federal law prohibits the military from carrying out domestic law enforcement duties.
Despite these obstacles, Trump’s immigration policies remain a top priority. Some Republicans, including Sen. Rick Scott, have already pushed for additional funding to support his goals, such as expanding detention facilities and bolstering immigration enforcement agencies. However, immigration advocates warn that such policies could further strain the economy and disrupt industries that rely on immigrant labor, particularly agriculture and construction.
For all his promises to “drain the swamp” and overhaul immigration, Trump will need to navigate a complex web of legal, political, and logistical challenges to achieve the sweeping changes he envisions. Whether he can fulfill his ambitious immigration agenda in a second term remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: his presidency will continue to shape the national conversation on immigration for years to come.