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President-Elect Donald Trump’s incoming border czar has announced plans to reinstate family detention centers and implement measures to execute what he calls the “largest deportation operation in history.”
Some shit you should know before you read: Since he announced his candidacy, President-Elect Donald Trump has pledged to remove millions of illegal immigrants from the United States as part of his immigration policy. Estimates suggest there are approximately 11-20 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the country, with at least 3 million having crossed the border since President Biden took office. In addition, during fiscal year 2024, the Biden administration deported approximately 271,484 people.
What’s going on now: During an interview with The Washington Post, incoming border czar Tom Homan announced plans to reinstate family detention centers and revive the “Remain in Mexico” policy, both hallmarks of President Donald Trump’s previous immigration strategy. He said, “We’re going to need to construct family facilities. How many beds we’re going to need will depend on what the data says.” Family detention centers, eliminated by President Biden in 2021, previously held migrant families in dormitory-like settings while awaiting deportation or asylum proceedings. Homan argued their reinstatement is necessary to deter illegal crossings, adding, “You knew you were in the country illegally and chose to have a child. So you put your family in that position.”
The “Remain in Mexico” policy, formally known as the Migrant Protection Protocols, required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their US cases were adjudicated. Homan praised the policy, arguing that it was effective in reducing illegal crossings, and criticized its termination under the Biden administration. He also said that strict enforcement, including the end of so-called “catch-and-release,” would send a clear message to deter future migration. “At the beginning, we may see numbers coming up when we shut these programs down,” Homan admitted, but he maintained, “Once the message is clear, the numbers will reduce.”
This all comes as the incoming Trump administration is preparing for significant legal challenges to its deportation plans, with officials acknowledging the likelihood of courtroom battles over their policies. Homan has warned state governors and city mayors who may attempt to hinder federal enforcement efforts through sanctuary policies or legal obstacles could face prosecution.
