On January 21, the day after his inauguration, newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump will begin one of the most controversial decisions of his presidency — mass deportations of migrants. According to The Wall Street Journal, this policy will start immediately and will be focused on cities with a large immigrant population across the country.
Starting Point: Chicago and Major U.S. Cities
The first city where deportation operations will begin is Chicago, in the state of Illinois. Sources report that between 100 and 200 officers from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be deployed to the city. Plans for deportations also include other major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Denver, and Miami, where operations will be conducted in the coming months.
This strategy is not limited to large cities only. Trump intends to expand the powers of local sheriffs, giving them more authority to enforce federal immigration laws. This will allow the scale of deportations to be extended to the local level of government.
Objective: Deportation of Individuals with Criminal Backgrounds
The main focus will be on deporting individuals with criminal backgrounds, even if their offenses were considered minor. Trump intends to remove from the country all migrants who, in his opinion, could pose a threat to public safety, even if their crimes were minor.
Against Sanctuary Cities and Financial Sanctions
The Trump administration also plans to “punish” so-called sanctuary cities — areas where local authorities refuse to cooperate with federal agencies on deportations. One of the main parts of this policy will be to stop providing federal grants to such cities. These grants can reach billions of dollars, and according to Trump’s advisors, this will serve as a strong incentive to comply with the new immigration policy.
Trump’s Promise: Largest Deportation Program in U.S. History
During his presidential campaign, Trump promised to implement the “largest deportation program in U.S. history.” He stated that anywhere from 15 to 20 million illegal immigrants could be expelled from the country and declared that he would start executing these plans from his first day in the White House.
Does Such Policy Violate Democratic Society Principles?
Trump’s mass deportation policy has already sparked serious controversies in society. Opponents of this policy believe that it contradicts fundamental democratic values of the U.S., such as human rights protection and compassion towards immigrants. Critics point out that deporting people who have lived in the country for many years and are considered part of its civic fabric is a violation of basic principles of equality and justice.
However, support for this policy remains strong among some Americans, especially Trump supporters. They believe that strict immigration control measures will help reduce crime levels and provide job opportunities for Americans.
Overall Support: On the Majority’s Side?
It seems that these measures do not enjoy broad support among all Americans. While some of the population approves of Trump’s decisive steps in combating illegal immigration, many Americans oppose such radical actions that could lead to the deportation of not only criminals but also individuals with legal status or who have been residing in the U.S. for a long time.
A Divisive Policy
Mass deportations initiated by Donald Trump are not only a political, but also a moral challenge for the United States. While some citizens see these actions as a way to combat illegal immigration, others consider them a violation of basic human rights. It is evident that this policy will have far-reaching consequences for the immigration situation in the U.S. and will remain one of the hottest topics in the American political landscape.
