Deportation, officially called “removal,” is the process of expelling a non-citizen from the United States. Individuals can become subject to removal for a variety of reasons, including illegal entry into the country or overstaying a visa, criminal convictions, national security threats, and false claims of U.S. citizenship. Immigration attorneys describe the removal process as a complex one that can take place over years. Deportation can be particularly harmful to families and children, causing emotional trauma and disrupting family structures.
In addition, the economic costs of mass deportation are severe. The removal of millions of unauthorized workers could lead to labor shortages and reduced economic output, driving up prices for consumers. This would disproportionately harm low-income and working class Americans. Many of these workers are essential to industries such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality, which may be difficult for American citizens to replace without a costly expansion in the workforce.
To carry out a massive deportation effort, the federal government would need to invest in an unprecedented expansion of immigration enforcement activities and build large facilities to house individuals in removal proceedings. These facilities are sometimes compared to internment camps used by the government during World War II, and they are likely to attract widespread protests from civil rights organizations and communities concerned about racial and ethnic profiling.
The government also would need to deploy resources and personnel away from national security, disaster response, and other critical roles to patrol communities and identify and arrest unauthorized individuals, most of whom pose no threat to public safety. Local law enforcement officials, who must cooperate with federal authorities to implement mass deportations, are likely to encounter significant legal challenges and widespread opposition to their efforts.
Most of those targeted for deportation are criminally convicted, and they typically have few or no options for relief from removal. But a noncitizen’s likelihood of being removed is also influenced by the president’s priorities and policies, which have shifted toward deporting people with no prior criminal record or who are otherwise low-priority.
Moreover, the consequences of a mass deportation campaign would ripple through entire communities and devastate millions of mixed-status households with U.S. citizens and unauthorized relatives. Separating these families from each other and removing them from the economy undermines families’ financial security and social support networks, and causes profound psychological trauma for children. It is also likely to create an environment of fear and anxiety, affecting the wellbeing of the broader community. For these reasons, pursuing mass deportations is a reckless and dangerous policy that should not be implemented. Our attorneys can help you understand your options and protect your rights in the deportation process. Contact the Law Office of Rosina C. Stambaugh to discuss your case. We serve clients throughout the country. Our offices are located in Los Angeles, California and Houston, Texas. Our firm is available for a free consultation by telephone or on a contingency fee basis. Call today to schedule your case review.