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Right-wing media are celebrating Trump’s impending mass deportations

Written by Chloe Simon

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Since President-elect Donald Trump's reelection, right-wing media have been celebrating his plans for mass deportation of undocumented immigrants — a focal point of his campaign — with some claiming that Trump has an “absolute mandate” to “deport illegals” and that the deportations “will begin immediately upon Trump’s inauguration into office.” Meanwhile, reporting has shown the devastating consequences that mass deportations would have on the U.S. economy and mixed-status families, as well as the havoc it could cause in the home countries of those being deported. 

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  • Trump and his newly named “border czar” Tom Homan have been vocal about mass deportations planned for his second presidential term

    • In September, Trump laid out his vision for mass deportations to “immediately end the migrant invasion of America.” In an X (formerly Twitter) post, Trump stated that he will “stop all migrant flights, end all illegal entries, terminate the Kamala phone app for smuggling illegals (CBP One app), revoke deportation immunity, suspend refugee resettlement, and return Kamala’s illegal migrants to their home countries (also known as remigration).” [Twitter/X, 9/15/24]
    • Just days before Trump’s 2024 victory, his now-named “border czar” Tom Homan suggested that families with mixed-immigration statuses could be deported. CBS News’ Cecilia Vega asked Homan during a 60 Minutes interview if there is a “way to carry out mass deportation without separating families,” to which Homan responded, “Of course there is. Families can be deported together.” Vega pressed Homan for specifics, asking, “So you are carrying out a targeted enforcement operation. Grandma's in the house. She's undocumented. Does she get arrested too?” Homan vaguely replied that “it depends,” saying, “Let the judge decide.” [CBS News, 10/27/24; The Guardian, 11/12/24]

  • Reporting has outlined the potential consequences of Trump’s proposed deportation policy and the complexities in polling about mass deportation

    • Vox wrote that the mass deportations could have “devastating consequences for the millions of people residing in ‘mixed status’ households: those in which both undocumented immigrants and people with permanent legal status reside.” An estimated 4.7 million “mixed status” households in the U.S. include individuals with legal status who may now be vulnerable to family separation or deportation alongside their families. [Vox, 10/25/24]
    • Trump’s mass deportation plans could have profoundly devastating effects on the economy. CNBC reported that “economists and labor specialists are most worried about the economic impact of policies that would deport workers already in the U.S., both documented and undocumented,” affecting both “low-skilled” and “skilled” workforces. It would also cost an estimated “$88 billion annually, for a total cost of $967.9 billion over the course of more than a decade.” [CNBC, 11/10/24]
    • Mexico would likely suffer some of the brunt of the deportation policy as “nearly half of the estimated 11 million people living illegally in the United States are Mexican.” Rev. Francisco Gallardo, who runs a migrant shelter in Mexico, explained to The Washington Post that “no one is prepared for deportations of this magnitude. Neither the governments nor the civil-society organizations.” Mexico’s economy could also falter; according to the Post, Mexican migrants in the U.S. “sent home more than $60 billion last year.” [The Washington Post, 11/12/24]
    • Immigration Hub pointed out that even though polls show majority support for deportations, the reality is more nuanced. Immigration Hub argued that “when provided a choice, voters overwhelmingly reject (only 39% in favor) the trademark Trump mass deportation policy that would result in American families across the nation torn apart." Another poll conducted on behalf of Immigration Hub by Global Strategy Group and BSP Research showed that “by a 22-point margin, voters prefer a pathway to citizenship over mass deportation.” [Immigration Hub, accessed 11/12/24, 7/16/24]

  • Right-wing media have claimed that Trump has a “mandate” to carry out mass deportations because they are popular with the majority of Americans — and threatened that he will do so on day one of his presidency

    • Fox News host Jesse Watters said that “2025 is going to be the year of the deportation.” Watters continued, “Illegals will be getting sent home, and if D.C. bureaucrats have a problem with that, they’ll be sent home too.” [Fox News, Jesse Watters Primetime, 11/12/24]
    • Right-wing podcaster Dave Rubin posted that Trump “has promised deportations and he has the mandate. Western Europe has a much worse fate,” in response to a post alleging that “Muslim migrants” were attacking Israelis in Amsterdam. Rubin also said, “Look at the pic below. This could easily NYC, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, etc. Trump was elected just in time.” [Twitter/X, 11/8/24]
    • Former National Review writer Nate Hochman posted, “We have the tools—and now, we have the electoral mandate. It's time for mass deportations.” [Twitter/X, 11/11/24]
    • OutKick host Tomi Lahren claimed, “A majority of Americans support mass deportation.” In response to a clip of The View’s Ana Navarro discussing the consequences of mass deportation, Lahren complained, “You open our borders for millions of people to invade our country and then when they are removed due to the fact they have no right to be here, you cry and moan like these people deserve to be here. They don’t.” [Twitter/X, 11/11/24]
    • Right-wing commentator Alex Berenson argued that Trump “has an ABSOLUTE mandate to enforce US immigration laws, deport illegals, toss bullshit economic asylum claims, and build a wall.” [Twitter/X, 11/12/24]
    • In an article about Trump’s plans for mass deportation, Breitbart claimed that his “deportation operation has garnered massive support among Americans.” The article cited “surveys and polls from Pew Research, Ipsos, Fox News, and Marist” which supposedly show “broad support among Americans for mass deportations of illegal aliens living in the United States.” [Breitbart, 11/6/24]
    • Right-wing commentator Mike Crispi claimed that “the people voted for mass deportations..the people will get mass deportations.” [Twitter/X, 11/12/24]
    • Right-wing influencer Ian Miles Cheong claimed, “Mass deportations will begin immediately upon Trump’s inauguration into office.” Cheong then instructed, “Illegal aliens: Pack your bags now or expect to be put in a camp for processing at a later date.” [Twitter/X, 11/7/24]
    • The Blaze’s Logan Hall: “mass deportations start on day one. we’re taking our country back.” [Twitter/X, 11/6/24]