The incoming Trump administration is preparing to implement a strict immigration agenda, focusing on interior enforcement and mass deportation, a shift from his earlier focus on building a border wall. Central to this plan are actions to expand detention facilities and expedite the removal of undocumented immigrants already in the U.S. Trump’s team is reviewing metropolitan areas to increase detention capabilities and considering the return of controversial policies like “Remain in Mexico,” which forces migrants to stay in Mexico during their U.S. immigration proceedings. Other proposed executive actions include revising asylum restrictions, revoking Biden-era protections for migrants, and reinstating mandatory detention, potentially ending the common practice of releasing migrants due to limited federal resources.
Trump is also exploring the construction of new detention centers in major cities and reinstating family detention, which was ended by Biden. A key element of the plan is securing funding, with officials considering reprogramming agency funds or declaring a national emergency to unlock additional resources, including from the Pentagon. The private sector, notably companies like CoreCivic, is also preparing to expand detention capacity.
A group of hardline immigration officials, including former ICE official Tom Homan and policy advisor Stephen Miller, are shaping the operational plans. These include large detention facilities near the border, worksite raids, and targeted deportations. The administration aims to focus initially on deporting individuals already in the U.S. rather than new arrivals, with the goal of fulfilling Trump’s campaign promise of aggressive immigration enforcement.
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