President-elect Donald Trump plans to initiate what his campaign describes as the “largest mass deportation operation” in U.S. history on his first day in office, setting the stage for widespread mobilization from immigrant rights advocates and legal groups determined to challenge the policy in court. The move follows Trump’s resounding electoral victory, which his national press secretary Karoline Leavitt described as a mandate to fulfill campaign promises, including the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.
“It gives him a mandate to govern as he campaigned, to deliver on the promises that he made, which include, on Day 1, launching the largest mass deportation operation of illegal immigrants that Kamala Harris has allowed into this country,” Leavitt stated on Fox News.
The incoming administration plans to lean heavily on federal resources, including the military, as well as diplomatic channels, to execute Trump’s agenda, according to campaign sources and former Trump administration officials. Vice President-elect JD Vance has pledged that the administration will aim for “1 million deportations each year.”
This operation would represent an unprecedented effort by the federal government to deport undocumented immigrants, pressuring sanctuary states and local governments to cooperate or face financial consequences. Private detention centers like GEO Group and CoreCivic, whose stocks surged following Trump’s election win, are already preparing for increased demand. Contractors are also reportedly discussing the expansion of detention capacity to accommodate Trump’s plans.
Advocates warn that Trump’s plan could bear immense financial and social costs. A report from the American Immigration Council (AIC) estimates that deporting all 13.3 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the U.S. would cost at least $315 billion if conducted as a single, rapid operation. A scaled version of 1 million deportations annually, as Vance suggests, would still cost around $88 billion each year, totaling nearly $1 trillion over a decade. The economic repercussions could also include a reduction in the nation’s GDP by up to 6.8 percent.
The AIC also highlights the potential human toll of such an expansive policy. More than 5.1 million U.S. citizen children live in mixed-status households and could face separation from family members. Additionally, the council’s report warns of heightened xenophobia and an increased risk of hate crimes across the nation.
Legal groups are preparing to combat Trump’s policies with forceful opposition in court. According to Lee Gelernt, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) who led challenges against Trump’s immigration policies during his first term, the ACLU is ready to act swiftly if Trump proceeds with his plans.
“As bad as the first Trump administration was for immigrants, we anticipate it will be much worse this time and are particularly concerned about the use of the military to round up immigrants,” Gelernt told The Washington Post. He emphasized the importance of public resistance, adding, “As always, we will go to court to challenge illegal policies, but it is equally essential that the public push back, as it did with family separation.”
Anticipating Trump’s enforcement tactics, ACLU’s Noreen Shah urged states and municipalities to bolster protections for undocumented residents, warning that the policy would be devastating for communities. “They should prepare for mass deportations because those will wreak havoc on the communities,” she told Newsweek. “It will mean kids who go to school and their parents are gone and not there to pick them up at the end of the day.”
In particular, civil rights groups are worried about Trump’s potential use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which permits the deportation of individuals from “hostile” nations. While this law has only been applied a handful of times, most notably during the internment of Japanese Americans in World War II, experts warn that Trump could use it to sidestep due process protections and conduct rapid deportations without judicial review.
“Many fear that a second Trump administration would seek to use this law to justify indefinite detention and remove people from the country swiftly and without judicial review,” Shah explained in an interview with Reuters. The Brennan Center for Justice has called on Congress to repeal the Alien Enemies Act, with Marcelo Agudo writing, “This law was shameful and dangerous back when it was created 200 years ago. It’s even more so today. It must be repealed or overturned.”
In response to Trump’s plans, immigrant rights groups and advocacy organizations have pledged to intensify efforts to protect immigrant communities and fight Trump’s policies at every step. Karen Tumlin, founder of Justice Action Center, issued a strong statement condemning Trump’s plans. “We have a simple message for President-elect Trump or his deputies if they decide to make good on their despicable plans: We will see you in court,” she said. Tumlin added a message of solidarity, saying, “We see you, we are you, and we will stand with you.”
Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, echoed Tumlin’s concerns and outlined the stakes involved. “Trump and his allies told us what he plans to do: mass deportations, ending birthright citizenship, ending the right to public education for immigrant children, internment camps, and using the military to hunt down immigrants. We should take him at his word,” Matos warned. She emphasized, “One thing is certain: we cannot and will not retreat. For more than 40 years, NILC has been steadfast in our fight to defend the rights of low-income immigrants and their loved ones. We successfully fought Donald Trump before, and we will do it again.”
As January 20 draws nearer, advocates are preparing to mount what many are calling a historic resistance against Trump’s immigration agenda. United We Dream, the largest youth-led immigrant advocacy group, has committed to building a nationwide coalition to protect immigrant rights. “Immigrant young people of United We Dream declare ourselves hopeful and clear eyed about the fight ahead,” said the group’s executive director, Greisa Martínez Rosas. She described the organization’s resolve to stand firm against Trump’s agenda, stating, “With Trump pledging to carry out the largest deportation effort in our country’s history… young, Black, brown, and queer leaders who have been at the vanguard of our movement and of creating meaningful change are ready to move mountains to protect our communities.”
Ultimately, organizations like the Justice Action Center, the ACLU, and United We Dream are emphasizing their readiness to challenge Trump’s administration through both legal and grassroots avenues. Reflecting on the high stakes, Refugees International President Jeremy Konyndyk concluded, “As we do under any presidential administration, we will work tirelessly with all of you to defend and advance the rights, protection, and well-being of all people forced to flee their homes.”
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