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In a recent interview with “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker, President-elect Donald Trump reaffirmed his plan to deport undocumented individuals living in the United States, including the possibility of removing their American-born children, who are citizens by birth. He stressed that “you have no choice” but to carry out the deportations.
Trump also reiterated his intent to end birthright citizenship, a right protected under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. He argued that this provision, which grants citizenship to children born on U.S. soil, should be repealed, although such a move would almost certainly face legal challenges.
Despite these strong stances, Trump expressed willingness to collaborate with Democrats to create a path for Dreamers—undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children—to remain in the country.
Trump’s deportation strategy, a cornerstone of his campaign, is set to begin with undocumented individuals convicted of crimes, though he did not specify which offenses would qualify. He stated, “You have to have, you know, rules, regulations, laws,” emphasizing that undocumented immigrants are unfairly taking opportunities away from those who follow legal immigration procedures. He later added that after addressing criminals, deportations will extend to others.
When asked about families with mixed immigration statuses—where some members are undocumented and others are U.S. citizens—Trump remarked that the only way to avoid breaking up families would be to deport all members together. This approach reflects the views of Tom Homan, his choice for border czar, who has also supported family deportations in mixed-status cases.
Regarding birthright citizenship, Trump called it “ridiculous” and insisted on ending it through executive action, despite the fact that many countries, including Canada and Brazil, have similar policies.
On the issue of Dreamers, Trump took a more measured tone, acknowledging the challenges faced by those brought to the U.S. as children. He indicated that he would work with Democrats on a solution for Dreamers, many of whom are now adults, successful in their careers, and even business owners. Trump expressed a desire to find a way for these individuals to remain in the country.
This interview sheds light on the president-elect’s immigration priorities, which will likely influence U.S. policy in the years to come.
