USA: In an exclusive interview on Thursday, President-elect Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to carrying out what he has called the largest mass deportation of immigrants in U.S. history. With his inauguration just a few months away, Trump outlined border security as one of his top priorities upon taking office in January.
We have to make the border strong and powerful, Trump said, discussing the need for tougher border security. But at the same time, we want people to come into our country. I’m not someone who says, ‘No, you can’t come in.’ We want people to come, but they must come legally.
Read also:
- Former President Donald Trump Defeats Vice President Kamala Harris in Historic Comeback
- US Election: Kamala Harris Calls For Unity And Change, Urges Voters To ‘Turn the Page’ on Trump
- Kamala Harris And Trump Hold Michigan Rallies, As Early Voting Kicks Off
- Trump Safe After The Shooting At Florida; Suspect captured
When asked about the financial costs of his mass deportation plan, Trump dismissed concerns, stating, It’s not a question of price tag. We have no choice. People who have murdered, those involved in drug trafficking, those people are going back to their countries. There is no price tag for that.
Trump’s pledge to remove millions of undocumented immigrants from the U.S. has been a cornerstone of his political rhetoric. He has long promised a sweeping deportation effort, claiming that criminal behavior among certain immigrants justifies such drastic measures.
While the exact number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. remains uncertain, implementing such a mass deportation would be a massive logistical and financial undertaking.
In July, acting ICE Director Patrick J. Lechleitner acknowledged the difficulties involved, highlighting that such an operation would require extensive coordination between federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and the Pentagon.
Trump’s re-election campaign saw notable gains among Latino voters, a key demographic that many Democrats had hoped to sway with arguments against Trump’s immigration policies. In his interview, Trump suggested that his stance on immigration played a significant role in his victory.
People want strong borders, and they like immigrants, but they have to come in legally, and with respect for the country, Trump said. They don’t want lawlessness. They want common-sense policies.
Trump also pointed to the broad coalition of voters who supported him in his re-election bid, including young voters, women, and Asian American voters groups he claimed were shifting away from the Democratic Party.
The Democrats are out of step with the country,” he said, referencing his opposition to calls to “defund the police” and other progressive policies. “The people understand that these things don’t work, and they want change.
In addition to discussing domestic issues, Trump shared updates on his international outreach since winning the election. He spoke with Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden after the results were confirmed, calling the conversations very respectful and confirming their agreement on a smooth transition.
Trump said Biden had expressed a desire for a peaceful transfer of power, which was echoed by Harris in her concession speech at Howard University on Wednesday.
Trump also mentioned that he had spoken with numerous global leaders since the election, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling the conversation a very good talk.
Trump also confirmed a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, though he did not reveal the details of that discussion. He said he had not yet spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin but anticipated speaking with him soon.
During his campaign, Trump vowed to negotiate an end to Russia’s war with Ukraine, stating he would broker a deal that benefits both sides.
