Trump Outlines an Immigration Crackdown

What's happening: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his allies are planning a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration if elected to a second term, as the issue remains a top issue for voters.

• The details: Trump’s plans to reverse President Biden's open borders policies include reinstalling Remain in Mexico and Title 42 to curb the flow of migration and instituting “the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.”

• However, not all migrants who have arrived under the current administration will be deportable under a second Trump administration. That’s because the Biden administration has swiftly processed migrants, most of whom will be granted asylum long before Trump would potentially assume office.

Economists push back: Some economists and businesses argue the American economy is dependent on foreign workers. They claim that a mass deportation of millions of illegal migrants would likely trigger a recession and worsen inflation.

• Republicans respond: The Trump campaign argues President Biden is “flooding America’s labor pool with millions of low-wage illegal migrants who are directly attacking the wages and opportunities of hard-working Americans.”

A second chance? Trump made similar campaign promises in the past and failed to deliver once in the White House. This time around, he has assistance from comprehensive policy plans drafted by the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, many of which will be ready to go on Day One of a second term.

Why it matters: Most Americans, including 42 percent of Democrats, support mass deportations. The influx of millions of illegal migrants under President Biden has led to housing shortages, strained economic resources, and violence; Donald Trump is seizing the opportunity to address the issue that many Americans are concerned about.