President-elect Donald Trump revealed an ambitious and controversial immigration agenda during an interview aired Sunday, detailing plans to deport families with mixed immigration status, end birthright citizenship, and explore legislative options for Dreamers protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The proposals mark a return to the hardline immigration rhetoric that defined Trump's first term and 2024 campaign.
In an interview with NBC's Kristen Welker on Meet the Press, Trump doubled down on his commitment to strict immigration policies. "I don't want to be breaking up families, so the only way you don't break up the family is you keep them together, and you have to send them all back," he said, echoing statements made by his appointed border czar, Tom Homan. Trump's comments highlight a potential shift in the handling of the estimated 4.7 million U.S. households classified as "mixed-status," where at least one undocumented individual resides with legal residents or U.S.-born citizens.
Pressed on what would happen to U.S.-born children under these circumstances, Trump indicated that families would have to make difficult choices. "If they come here illegally but their family is here legally, then the family has a choice. The person that came in illegally can go out, or they can all go out together," he said. Trump emphasized that the plan would prioritize undocumented individuals with criminal records before expanding to others, stating, "We're starting with the criminals, and then we're starting with others, and we're going to see how it goes."
The president-elect reiterated his long-standing pledge to end birthright citizenship, a constitutional guarantee under the 14th Amendment. "We have to end it," Trump declared, calling the policy "ridiculous" and suggesting he would use executive action to repeal it. Legal experts argue that such a move would face significant constitutional challenges. Trump also incorrectly claimed that the U.S. is the only country with birthright citizenship, overlooking nations like Canada and Brazil that maintain similar policies.
Despite his hardline stance on deportations and citizenship, Trump struck a notably softer tone when discussing Dreamers. These individuals, who entered the U.S. as children and are protected under DACA, could see some reprieve under Trump's proposed negotiations with Democrats. "We have to do something about the Dreamers," Trump said. "Some of them are no longer young people, and in many cases, they've become successful. They have great jobs, small businesses, or even large businesses, and we're going to have to do something with them."
Trump's immigration agenda has drawn criticism from advocacy groups and experts, who warn that the deportation of mixed-status families could lead to humanitarian crises. Critics also highlight the logistical and economic challenges of mass deportations, with some estimates suggesting the process could cost hundreds of billions of dollars. Trump's earlier policies, including the "zero-tolerance" family separation policy, were widely condemned and caused uproar during his first term.
The president-elect's remarks come amid a national debate over border security. During President Joe Biden's administration, unauthorized border crossings surged before recent executive actions curbed the numbers. Trump's campaign has sought to link undocumented immigrants to crime, despite studies indicating that undocumented immigrants are arrested for violent crimes at lower rates than native-born Americans. A 2024 study by the National Institute of Justice found that undocumented immigrants in Texas were arrested at less than half the rate of native-born residents for such offenses.
Trump's proposed repeal of birthright citizenship is expected to ignite a fierce legal and political battle, as the 14th Amendment has been a cornerstone of American immigration law since its ratification in 1868. Critics argue that unilaterally ending birthright citizenship through executive action would likely be struck down in court.
While advocating for stricter immigration measures, Trump's acknowledgment of the challenges facing Dreamers hints at a potential area for bipartisan cooperation. He stated that Republicans are "very open" to finding a solution for Dreamers, suggesting this could be an opportunity to bridge divides in an otherwise polarizing agenda.
