It’s official; Donald J. Trump will be the 47th president of the United States. Trump has been very clear on what he plans to do during his time in the Oval Office. Trump’s plans for 2025 appear to be closely aligned with the broader agenda of Project 2025. This conservative blueprint aims to ensure a hard-right turn in American governance, focusing on various policies and reforms that would reshape federal operations. Despite Trump’s effort to distance himself from the initiative, a CBS news analysis indicates that more than 270 proposals in Project 2025 align closely with policies Trump has promoted.
The discussion surrounding immigration, particularly about crime, has been a focal point in both Donald Trump’s rhetoric and the proposals put forth in Project 2025. Both emphasize concerns about immigration as a potential threat to national security and societal stability. Trump’s statements have often framed unauthorized immigrants as a danger to public safety, with terms like “migrant criminals” and “killers” used to characterize them. He has argued that immigrants contribute significantly to crime, claiming they are “attacking villages and cities.”
Additionally, Trump has made controversial remarks linking crime and immigration, suggesting that certain negative behaviors are inherently tied to immigrants. He has also repeatedly asserted that unchecked immigration leads to rising crime rates in the U.S., accusing immigrants of “poisoning our country” and “stealing our jobs.” These views are shared within the pages of Project 2025, where similar concerns about immigration’s impact on public safety are expressed.
One of Trump’s main campaign points over the past few months has been mass deportation. Donald Trump’s proposed mass deportation strategy aims to implement what he repeatedly describes as the “largest deportation program in American history.” Trump announced that Tom Homan, the former head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will be overseeing border control, acting as “border czar.” His exact role is unclear as several different agencies in the United States manage the border. Considering Homan’s past efforts in immigration policy, spearheading earlier policies that have separated families at the border, his role in Trump’s second administration will be paramount. “If I’m in charge of this, my priorities are public safety threats and national security threats first,” Homan said to CBS News in an interview.
Trump’s approach involves several key components and tactics, focusing on mobilizing government resources and cooperation from state and local authorities. Trump’s mass deportation plan emphasizes targeted enforcement rather than mass sweeps of neighborhoods. Trump’s administration plans to prioritize individuals who have received removal orders or have criminal convictions, labeling them as potential threats to public safety. The plan includes a revival of workplace enforcement operations to identify and arrest undocumented immigrants working illegally. Trump has indicated that enforcement would focus on sectors with significant undocumented labor, such as agriculture and hospitality.
Trump’s immigration plan emphasizes a strong use of military resources and federal-state collaboration. He has repeatedly proposed activating the National Guard and using military installations as detention facilities to create a robust enforcement system. His strategy includes invoking the Alien Enemies Act, an old wartime statute that allows the president to relocate, arrest, or deport any male from a foreign enemy country, to allow for swift deportations without judicial oversight and expediting the process for individuals deemed threats. Trump aims to federalize state-level National Guard units and push local law enforcement to cooperate, incentivizing compliance through withholding federal funds. Additionally, he plans to expedite removal procedures, reducing court involvement and streamlining deportations. The plan also involves stricter asylum policies, making it harder for individuals to seek refuge, simplifying deportation efforts.
Trump also seeks to limit access to legal representation for individuals facing deportation, arguing that this would streamline the process. But this could potentially jeopardize the rights of many immigrants, including asylum seekers. Project 2025 proposes severe restrictions on asylum, effectively cutting off pathways for many seeking refuge from violence or persecution, believing that this would reduce criminal activity many conservatives associate with undocumented immigrants.
Executives within Trump’s camp have acknowledged that carrying out mass deportations will be an expensive and complex endeavor. According to the American Immigration Council, deporting one million people annually could cost around $88 billion, factoring in the expanded law enforcement staffing, detention facilities, and associated logistics.
“I think immigrants are really helping this country. Nobody was taking those blue-collar jobs,” says a 16-year-old, first-generation Jamaican, who wished to stay anonymous, due to concerns of safety and privacy. “Donald Trump wanting to [enact] a mass deportation plan, I just feel like it would be so harmful to the economy.” They continued, “A lot of doctors and our healthcare officials come from other countries. Along with the hospitality in our hotels and restaurants, they provide some of the best care I’ve experienced personally. They benefit us and they enjoy their jobs more than some of the privileged Americans I’ve met.”
While the current deportation infrastructure is largely unchanged from previous administrations, economists warn that the sheer scale of Trump’s plans would necessitate additional funding and more agents to manage the expanded operations effectively. The Trump campaign contends that the expense of deportation is minimal compared to the costs of housing and providing social services to recent migrants. “Kamala’s border invasion is unsustainable and is already tearing apart the fabric of our society. Mass deportations of illegal immigrant criminals, and restoring an orderly immigration system, are the only way to solve this crisis,” said Karoline Leavitt, the national press secretary for Trump’s campaign, in a statement to ABC News before the election.
Trump’s immigration policies could have some significant impacts on those who are affected, especially kids and teenagers.
Teens may face disruptions in their education due to immigration enforcement actions, such as raids or increased police presence in communities. Fear of deportation can also prevent families from seeking help, which impacts school attendance and performance. Trump’s immigration policies could destabilize families economically, especially in mixed-status households. If a primary breadwinner is deported, teenagers may face economic hardship, which can strain family resources and their ability to engage in extracurricular activities or pursue higher education.
“Families could lose their main sources of income,” says another anonymous teen from Atlanta. “Prices in grocery stores could skyrocket. Immigrants make up much of the agricultural industry, so I’m sure you would see those prices for basic goods increase dramatically.” Many teenagers in immigrant families experience heightened levels of fear and anxiety due to the threat of family separation and deportation. The uncertainty surrounding their parents’ immigration status can result in stress that affects their mental health.
“Many of my friends, their parents came here illegally, and [my friends] have fears that they are going to get deported,” says Jylen, a teen living in Atlanta. “They’re not terrorists… they serve no threat to America.”
