In the coming week, President-elect Donald Trump is set to begin implementing his campaign promises to increase deportations from within the United States. This initiative, led by Trump’s Border Czar and former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Tom Homan, emphasizes focusing on individuals who pose threats to public safety and national security. Recently, the House passed the Laken Riley Act, which stipulates that ICE must detain undocumented migrants who are charged or convicted of specific crimes against property.
The initial step in reforming the immigration system involves removing individuals who have committed crimes or pose a danger to society. The goal is to create an immigration system that benefits everyone, except those who engage in criminal activities. The priority is to deport individuals who pose national security threats or public safety risks. Following that, the focus will shift to those convicted of crimes against people, such as assault or stalking. The next group includes individuals convicted of other felonies, including property crimes like trespassing, larceny, or DUI. While targeting those with existing removal orders is straightforward, efforts will also concentrate on apprehending dangerous individuals without removal orders.
Deporting those who threaten public and national security is logical because they pose an immediate risk to law-abiding citizens, including other immigrants. Swift action is crucial as it will take time and resources to address this issue, largely due to previous inadequate border security measures. A recent ICE letter to Congress revealed that over 647,000 undocumented aliens charged or convicted of crimes reside in the US. This includes 13,099 convicted of homicide, 15,811 convicted of sexual assault, and 62,231 convicted of assault. Many of these individuals are currently serving sentences in state prisons. Those who are not incarcerated need to be located and deported promptly, while the rest should be removed upon completing their sentences.
The vast majority of immigrants come to the United States to follow the law, yet the crimes committed by some are deeply concerning because they represent incidents that should never have happened, such as the murders of Laken Riley and Rachel Morin. The federal government’s years of neglect in this area require substantial financial investment and resources to efficiently and comprehensively address the criminal element among the approximately 13.3 million undocumented people living in the U.S. However, deporting the entire undocumented population, comparable to the population of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, would be financially and logistically overwhelming. Even if 20% of the population self-deports, deporting the remainder at a rate of one million people per year could take over a decade and cost nearly a trillion dollars. Thus, the focus must remain on the urgent task of deporting criminals.
As the country works to remove criminal elements, it is equally important to prevent these issues from arising again. Retired Chief Border Patrol Agent Chris Clem advocates for a balanced approach that includes both “tall fences” for border security and “wide gates” for legal entry channels. The tall fences involve increased personnel, better pay, and enhanced technology and infrastructure, such as roads in well-traveled areas and walls in high-impact zones where migrants can quickly enter the country. On the other hand, the wide gates require flexible legal channels, both permanent and temporary, to empower most migrants to adhere to the law and discourage illegal entry into the United States.
As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the focus must be on safeguarding the “inalienable rights” of all Americans. Building a culture of liberty, where those committed to American values can thrive, requires removing those who threaten these ideals. A deportation strategy that restores integrity and the rule of law to border security and visa programs will lay the foundation for a long-term system that benefits everyone.
