US President-elect Donald Trump gestures during a speech on border security and immigration in Austin, Texas, in October this year. Reuters File Photo
US President-elect Donald Trump intends to deport all illegal immigrants in the US during his four-year term but seeks a deal to safeguard so-called 'Dreamer' immigrants, he revealed in an interview aired Sunday on NBC News' 'Meet the Press with Kristen Welker.' Trump also plans to take executive action on his first day in office to attempt to end birthright citizenship, which grants citizenship to anyone born in the US regardless of their parents' immigration status. Trump, a Republican who secured a second term in the White House with promises of mass deportations, is expected to declare illegal immigration a national emergency upon taking office on January 20 and mobilize resources from across the federal government for a comprehensive crackdown. The US Department of Homeland Security estimated around 11 million immigrants were in the US illegally as of January 2022, though the number is likely higher today. In the NBC News interview, Welker inquired if Trump's plan was to deport everyone without legal status. 'I think you have to do it,' Trump responded. 'It’s a very tough thing to do. You know, you have rules, regulations, laws.' Trump expressed a desire for a deal to protect 'Dreamer' immigrants brought to the US illegally as children, noting that Republicans are open to the idea. During his 2017-2021 presidency, Trump attempted to end a program that offers deportation relief and work permits to these immigrants but was thwarted by the Supreme Court. Trump's plans to end birthright citizenship will likely encounter legal hurdles. The right is rooted in an amendment to the US Constitution and is upheld by 1898 Supreme Court precedent. Speaking to Welker, Trump hinted that Republicans might need to pursue a constitutional amendment to tackle the issue—a challenging process. 'We'll maybe have to go back to the people,' he said. Trump's incoming border czar Tom Homan and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller both urged Congress to significantly increase funding for immigration enforcement during an appearance on Fox News' 'Sunday Morning Futures.' The pro-immigration American Immigration Council estimated that deporting all illegal immigrants in the US over more than a decade would cost $88 billion annually. Homan stated that the minimum required would be close to that amount. 'We're going to need as much money as Congress can get us,' he said.
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