As the nation braces for a new presidential term under Donald Trump, the question of immigration—and specifically, deportation—has once again surged to the forefront of political debate.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune stepped into the conversation over the weekend, offering a tempered perspective on what Americans should expect when it comes to Trump’s ambitious promises to address the millions of individuals who have crossed the southern border under President Biden’s administration.
In his Meet the Press interview, Thune struck a balance between supporting Trump’s immigration goals and acknowledging the hard logistical and financial realities of mass deportations. With estimates suggesting over 10 million illegal crossings in the last four years, Thune’s call for “realistic” expectations wasn’t just political hedging—it was a sober acknowledgment of the enormous challenge ahead.
At the core of Thune’s argument is prioritization. He emphasized the need to start with those who pose the most immediate threat: individuals on terrorist watch lists, criminals, cartel operatives, and gang members. And let’s not gloss over the numbers—nearly 300 people on terrorist watch lists have reportedly been apprehended at the border. This isn’t just a policy issue; it’s a matter of national security.
But even as Thune underscored the importance of prioritizing dangerous individuals, he also highlighted the resources—both human and financial—that such a massive operation would require.
Deporting millions of people isn’t just a matter of policy willpower; it’s about manpower, funding, and the physical infrastructure to make it possible. Thune called for more border personnel, more ICE agents, advanced surveillance technology, and additional physical barriers to stem the flow of illegal crossings.
Yet, the question remains: Is it feasible to deport everyone? Even Thune seemed to tread cautiously here, suggesting that while full-scale deportation might not be realistic, a targeted approach could yield meaningful progress. Start with the over one million individuals who are already marked for deportation under the Biden administration, he suggested, and work from there.
This pragmatic stance isn’t necessarily at odds with Trump’s rhetoric; rather, it injects a dose of operational realism into a topic often charged with emotional and political fervor. Thune’s position reflects an understanding that while campaign promises play well in rallies, execution on the ground is an entirely different battle.
The conversation around immigration reform and deportation is far from new, but the stakes feel higher than ever. With millions of crossings, strained resources, and rising public frustration over border security, the new administration will face intense pressure to deliver visible results—and fast.