Former President Donald Trump promised Friday to launch the largest mass deportation operation in American history if he returns to the White House, making immigration enforcement a centerpiece of his closing campaign message just 11 days before the presidential election.
Speaking inside an airport hangar in Austin, Trump attacked Vice President Kamala Harris over the Biden administration's immigration policies and pledged sweeping changes beginning on his first day in office.
"Immediately upon taking the oath of office, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history," Trump told supporters.
Trump Wants to Break Eisenhower's Deportation Record
Trump specifically invoked President Dwight D. Eisenhower, whose administration carried out a controversial mass deportation campaign in the 1950s.
Trump said he intends to exceed that historical record.
His proposal raises substantial questions about how millions of people could be located, detained, processed, and deported, as well as the cost and legal challenges associated with an operation of that magnitude.
Immigration advocates have warned that sweeping enforcement operations could separate families, disrupt communities, and result in people with legal status being improperly detained.
Trump has provided limited operational details about how his administration would carry out the plan.
Immigrants Again Portrayed as Criminals
During his remarks, Trump repeatedly associated undocumented immigrants with violent crime, accusing Harris of allowing dangerous criminals into the United States.
He promised to deport immigrants convicted of serious crimes and pledged to end what he described as a migrant invasion.
Trump also repeated claims that foreign governments are emptying prisons and sending criminals into the United States, assertions for which he has not provided substantiated evidence.
His remarks largely overlooked the millions of immigrants who work, raise families, and contribute to American communities.
Plans to Eliminate Sanctuary Cities
Trump also promised to move immediately against sanctuary cities, jurisdictions that limit certain forms of cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
He pledged to end existing border policies and restrict migrant entry programs.
The former president presented his proposals as necessary to restore public safety, while critics argue that mass deportations would create major humanitarian, economic, and constitutional concerns.
Immigration Dominates Final Campaign Days
The Austin appearance comes as both presidential campaigns focus on Texas.
Harris is scheduled to appear in Houston with Beyoncé at an event emphasizing reproductive rights, while Trump is using his visit to highlight immigration and border security.
Although illegal border crossings have declined significantly since President Biden announced additional asylum restrictions in June, Trump continues to characterize the southern border as being in a state of crisis.
With Election Day approaching, the contrast between the candidates' immigration proposals remains substantial.
Trump's promise is no longer limited to stronger border enforcement. He is proposing a nationwide deportation campaign on a scale the United States has not attempted in generations, with profound implications for immigrant families, American employers, and federal law enforcement.