By Seyi Babalola
United States President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to deport all illegal immigrants in the United States in his upcoming four-year term.
Trump outlined his plan for a widespread crackdown on illegal immigration in an interview that aired Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press.
When he takes office on January 20, he plans to declare a national emergency.
The Department of Homeland Security forecasts that more than 11 million people in the US are undocumented as of January 2022, a number that is probably higher now, according to Reuters.
Trump affirmed his intention to remove all unauthorized immigrants, stating, “I think you have to do it. It’s a very tough thing to do. You know, you have rules, regulations, laws.”
While emphasising enforcement, Trump signalled a willingness to negotiate protections for “Dreamers,” immigrants brought to the US illegally as children.
During his first term, Trump attempted to dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme, which provides deportation relief to this group but was blocked by the Supreme Court.
Trump also plans to issue an executive order to end birthright citizenship on his first day in office.
The policy, which is based on the 14th Amendment of the Constitution and supported by a Supreme Court ruling from 1898, guarantees citizenship to anybody born in the United States, regardless of the immigration status of their parents.
“We’ll maybe have to go back to the people,” he said.
Trump noted that his idea would face legal challenges and hinted that a constitutional amendment might be necessary to accomplish this goal.
Significant financial resources would be needed to put these policies into action.
