The deportation of a noncitizen is one of the most drastic civil enforcement actions that the United States government can take. It changes the lives of not just the people who are removed from the country, but also their families and communities. NPR spoke to immigration lawyers and experts and reviewed official documents to break down how deportation works, what happens when someone is deported, and how much the process costs.
The government may begin deportation proceedings against a noncitizen if they have entered the country without permission, overstayed their visa, committed certain crimes of moral turpitude, or engage in activities that threaten public safety or national security. The government can also start removal proceedings against people who are eligible for a form of temporary protection such as asylum, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), humanitarian parole, or deferred action (including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA).
Some people can be removed voluntarily if the U.S. can find a country willing to take them. The quickest way to get deported is through “expedited removal.” In expedited removal, you do not see an immigration judge. If an immigration officer decides that you should be removed, they can order your departure without a hearing and arrange transportation and other details for you.
If a judge orders you to be removed, you can appeal the ruling. You can also ask the judge to reopen your case or make a new decision if there are new facts that affect your case. If you win an appeal or reopen your case, you may still be subject to deportation if a new immigration judge determines that you should be removed.
Mass deportation would require a massive investment of tax dollars, personnel and resources to track, find, and arrest individuals who are not citizens. It would force local law enforcement officers to shift their attention from crime prevention and disaster response to deportation operations, a significant cost in terms of both money spent and lives lost. It would require the military and the National Guard to shift resources from traditional domestic missions.
The governmental costs of deportation include the direct cost to the government of processing and carrying out an order of removal, and the indirect costs of removing workers from the economy. An estimate from the Economic Policy Institute suggests that deporting a million undocumented immigrants would remove 1.5 million construction workers; 224,700 in agriculture; 870,400 in manufacturing; and 45,600 in general services such as auto repair, barber shops, and dry cleaning. The total economic output lost by these workers and their families is estimated at about $53 billion. The societal costs are even more profound: millions of children in mixed-status households would be split up from their parents, creating emotional trauma for entire communities. The social safety net would be stretched to the breaking point. This is a recipe for a national crisis.