President-elect Donald Trump has made sweeping promises about his approach to border control and immigration reform, including executing the largest deportation effort in U.S. history. However, his ambitious immigration agenda is already encountering significant obstacles, both in legal battles and on the ground.
Like during his first term, Trump’s immigration policies are facing intense scrutiny from the courts. Several measures were previously blocked due to technicalities, legal challenges, or outright opposition. The enormity of the task also presents practical challenges—particularly as Trump envisions deporting the nation’s estimated 13 million undocumented immigrants, a proposal that many experts warn could have devastating economic consequences.
Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), whose district lies along the U.S.-Mexico border, expressed concerns about the feasibility of such a massive operation. “The reality of what he’s described would be pretty devastating to the national economy and the workforce,” she said. While Trump has inherited a powerful immigration enforcement apparatus, with ample powers for deportation, the scope of his planned actions faces significant logistical, economic, and political roadblocks.
In 2024, the Biden administration set a 10-year record by deporting 271,484 individuals. Expanding that effort, as Trump promises, would require substantial resources, which could further strain federal budgets. Trump’s stance on deportation has evolved somewhat under pressure from business leaders and agricultural lobbies concerned about workforce shortages. His earlier promises of mass deportations have since shifted to a focus on individuals with criminal records, aligning more closely with the Biden administration’s approach.
The incoming administration, led by border czar Tom Homan, faces the challenge of securing the funding and resources needed for such an expansive operation. Estimates for deporting 13 million undocumented individuals suggest a price tag of at least $88 billion—more than the entire budget of the Department of Homeland Security. While Trump’s team claims they will not shy away from removing anyone without legal status, this ambitious goal will require overcoming a series of practical, financial, and legal hurdles.
Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) highlighted the vast scope of possible deportations under current immigration law, including offenses like soliciting a prostitute or even jumping a turnstile, which could render certain immigrants deportable. The legal framework in place allows for rapid removal, though its widespread application could stretch resources to the breaking point.
Legal challenges are already building up, especially regarding Trump’s promise to end birthright citizenship—a constitutional right guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. Legal experts like Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) point out that abolishing birthright citizenship would require a lengthy constitutional amendment process, a path that would ignite significant legal battles. Trump has also proposed using the military in deportation efforts, which many argue would exceed the bounds of the law.
Trump’s prior administration experienced several legal setbacks on immigration, including the blockage of attempts to end protections for Dreamers and the controversial attempt to fund the border wall through an emergency declaration. These legal defeats stemmed not only from procedural issues but from challenges to the scope of executive power. As Trump seeks to implement a tougher immigration agenda, his team will likely face similar legal challenges, particularly if they sidestep Senate confirmation for key immigration positions.
Despite these hurdles, Trump’s allies are rallying behind him, calling for significant funding to hire more border agents and expand detention facilities. Some Republicans have even proposed financial penalties for those who do not voluntarily leave the country, pushing for policies that may hasten self-deportation.
While Trump’s immigration agenda is facing a maze of legal and logistical challenges, there is little doubt that his administration will attempt to push the boundaries of executive power. As Rep. Escobar noted, “Lawsuits will slow him down,” but she expressed concern that Trump may disregard legal norms and constitutional limitations in the process. The coming months will likely see fierce debates over the scale and legality of his proposed border crackdown.