In December 2023, former President Donald J. Trump told NBC news that illegal immigrants were “poisoning the blood of our country” and more recently, that “the U.S. is like a garbage can for the rest of the world because of its border policies.”
During his 2016-2020 presidency, Trump consistently tackled the issue of illegal immigration in America. Due to his loss in the 2020 presidential election, he was unable to enforce many of the policies he envisioned. However, with his recent victory over Kamala Harris, his plans may soon become a potentially alarming reality for many, in just a few months.
Trump plans to deport an unprecedented number of undocumented immigrants and strengthen border security. He pledged to end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, arguing at an October Town Hall meeting that, “We have a lot of people coming into our country. We just want them to come in legally.” As a result, undocumented immigrants across the country now live in fear of deportation and many are going into hiding.
Tom Homan, whom Donald Trump appointed as his “border czar,” will implement the deportation policy. At a conservative conference this year, Homan remarked, “No one’s off the table. If you’re here illegally, you’d better be looking over your shoulder.” He vowed to “run the biggest deportation force this country has ever seen.”
Surprisingly, Kamala Harris’s take on the border and immigration is not much different from Trump’s. She also advocates for stronger border/stricter asylum policies, while pushing to fix a “broken” immigration system. Trump wants to deport illegal immigrants outright, and while Kamala agrees that “unauthorized border crossings are illegal,” she wants to further grant undocumented citizens more time to earn their citizenship. This contrasts with Trump’s policy, which seeks to deport those who cross illegally–although it would grant them a chance to pursue legal citizenship later.
While many citizens question the morality of the expulsions, economists and labor specialists worry about the impact of the mass deportations on the United States’ economy. The domestic labor market is a critical factor in economic growth, especially in sectors like manufacturing, warehouse operations, and agriculture. Many recognize that the labor shortage caused by the post-COVID economic boom was largely filled by illegal immigrants. “If the proposed immigration policies come into reality, there could be a significant impact,” says Jayson Leverant, president of the national staffing agency AtWork.
Citizens are already expressing their disagreement over Trump’s mass deportation mandate, as demonstrated by a rally in Washington, D.C. this past Saturday. Though the soon-to-be President Trump will gain control of the White House in January, the issue of illegal immigrants and what to do with them remains complex and nuanced. But many at risk of being deported are standing their ground, declaring through protest signs, “We’re Not Leaving.”
This article also appears in our November 2024 print edition.
