Official policy announcements from the Department of Homeland Security

Trump's Border Czar to Reinstate Family Detention, Seeks $86 Billion for Deportations Starting January 20

Dec 26, 2024, 07:00 PM

President-elect Donald Trump's incoming 'border czar,' Tom Homan, has announced plans to reinstate family detention centers for migrants as part of a broader strategy to address illegal immigration. Homan stated that the Trump administration will resume detaining migrant families with children, reversing a policy ended by President Joe Biden in 2021. The administration aims to construct new family detention facilities, with the number of beds needed dependent on migration data. Homan emphasized that families would be deported together, but in cases where children are U.S. citizens, parents would have the choice to either leave with their children or leave them behind in the U.S. He justified the policy by stating that parents knowingly chose to have children while in the country illegally, thus placing their families in such situations. Homan estimates that the Trump administration will need $86 billion from Congress to begin deportations, which are set to start after Trump's inauguration on January 20. Additionally, the National Guard may be involved in supporting deportation efforts, and worksite raids are planned as part of the mass deportation strategy. This policy shift is part of Trump's anticipated focus on border security and mass deportation efforts upon his return to office.