In a rare, candid interview with Time magazine, former President Donald Trump revealed a detailed vision for his potential second term, outlining a massive deportation initiative and a militarized approach to immigration control that has sparked intense reactions. Though Trump remained evasive on many topics, he was uncharacteristically explicit about his intent to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, signaling a hardline shift in U.S. immigration policy.
Revisiting “Operation Wetback”: Trump’s Inspiration for Mass Deportations
Trump cited the controversial 1950s “Operation Wetback” as a model for his planned crackdown, an Eisenhower-era initiative that reportedly rounded up over a million Mexican nationals, though historians note this figure was inflated, with many individuals counted multiple times. Trump stopped short of using the original derogatory term, but he echoed its tactics, stating his plan could target between 15 and 20 million people—a number significantly higher than estimates by sources like Pew Research, which places the undocumented population closer to 10.5 million.
Despite lacking concrete evidence, Trump also perpetuated the claim that many undocumented immigrants are former prisoners or have been institutionalized in their home countries, a narrative CNN has debunked, noting that violent crime rates in the U.S. have been on a steady decline.
Military Involvement and Local Law Enforcement Pressure
When asked if his plans would involve the military, Trump confirmed he would activate the National Guard and didn’t dismiss the possibility of deploying military forces directly. “These aren’t civilians,” Trump said, labeling undocumented migrants as an “invasion.” He suggested that legal constraints against military action on U.S. soil would not apply to his operation, as he does not view undocumented immigrants as protected by the same laws.
Trump revealed that he would use federal funds to incentivize local law enforcement to participate in his sweeping deportation efforts. When asked what he would do if some local police refused, he suggested they’d miss out on “the riches”—a veiled warning about funding cuts for non-compliance.
More “Just Jokes”? Trump Deflects on Controversial Statements
Trump’s conversation with Time also touched on his history of inflammatory comments. He dismissed his recent statements about becoming “dictator for a day” as sarcastic, though his “just-joking” defense is unlikely to comfort those concerned about the durability of U.S. democratic norms. Trump was noncommittal on other hot-button issues as well, such as reclassifying federal employees to expand political control, leaving these details murky.
The Role of Courts in the Coming Battle
Aware of the inevitable legal challenges his plans would face, Trump assured that he would comply with federal court decisions, though he made no secret of his hope to push the limits of presidential authority in his second term.
In an interview that peeled back the layers of his strategy, Trump outlined a vision of mass deportation and military-backed enforcement that would change the face of U.S. immigration policy, setting the stage for legal and political battles over the extent of executive power in America.
