Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) addressed concerns about mass deportations during an Axios event on Wednesday, stating that such actions would not involve door-to-door operations. This clarification comes after President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promise to initiate mass deportations from the first day of his presidency.
Trump’s proposed crackdown on immigration has sparked concerns, especially among immigrant communities, but Crenshaw emphasized that the reality would be different from the political rhetoric.
Tom Homan, appointed as Trump’s “Border Czar,” explained that the new administration’s deportation efforts would focus on the “worst first,” prioritizing individuals who pose criminal or national security threats.
The operation would initially target individuals already on the radar of Homeland Security Investigations, which includes a large number of migrants in the U.S. illegally. These individuals are often already under deportation orders, such as those convicted of crimes or those who entered the country unlawfully and failed to claim asylum or parole status.
Crenshaw Clarifies Trump’s Mass Deportation Plan: No Door-to-Door Sweeps, Targeted Approach on High-Priority Cases
Crenshaw elaborated that the deportation process would begin with this established list of individuals, pointing out that there are tens of thousands already identified for removal. He also suggested that the operations could extend to companies known for employing individuals who are in the U.S. illegally.
This approach would likely involve targeted efforts to address employers who facilitate illegal immigration, rather than sweeping actions against individuals without specific cause.
The Trump transition team, the Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were unable to immediately confirm the details of Crenshaw’s statements when asked by Axios. However, Crenshaw sought to reassure the public that the feared “door-to-door” deportation efforts were unlikely, citing a lack of resources to carry out such an extensive operation.
Crenshaw suggested that the political narrative surrounding mass deportations has been exaggerated for political effect, particularly during the election campaign. He assured that the resources would be directed at specific targets, such as individuals with criminal backgrounds or those who have already been issued deportation orders, rather than engaging in widespread, indiscriminate deportations.
