President-elect Donald Trump’s border czar Tom Homan has informed Republican lawmakers about the need to manage expectations regarding the initial deportation operation of the incoming administration. This caution is due to limited resources, as per multiple sources familiar with the discussions.
While there have been suggestions from Trump’s supporters about detaining and deporting undocumented individuals in the US, the feasibility of these plans largely hinges on the resources and funding available to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an agency that has faced budget constraints in the past.
Republican Representative Darrell Issa, who participated in one of the meetings with Homan, clarified that the discussions are not centered around deporting 20 million individuals but rather focus on establishing orders, priorities, and expectations.
House Republicans are currently grappling with the practical challenges of fulfilling one of their key campaign promises in light of these resource limitations. Trump has previously stated his intention to initiate the largest deportation operation in history, expressing his belief to Time Magazine in December that there could be as many as 15 to 20 million undocumented immigrants in the US by the time he assumes office.
In recent interactions with House Republicans, Homan, a seasoned figure in immigration enforcement, has outlined a phased approach to realizing Trump’s ambitious deportation goals, as per lawmakers and sources familiar with the discussions.
