In a recent interview with TIME Magazine, former President Donald Trump declared his intention to carry out the "largest mass deportation effort" in American history if he regains the presidency in 2024. Trump's plan aims to target the estimated "nearly 20 million" illegal migrants currently residing in the United States.

The Trump 2024 campaign has not unveiled the specific details of how they would execute such a massive operation. However, former officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) suggest that it would necessitate a substantial expansion of the agency, enhanced collaboration with the State Department, and increased funding from Congress.

Eric Ruark, the director of research at NumbersUSA, supports the estimation of "between 15 and 20 million" undocumented migrants in the US, given the recent influx of migrants during the Biden administration. This number contrasts with the official estimate of 11 million from the US Census Bureau.

Former acting ICE director Tom Homan highlighted the importance of having the necessary resources to expedite deportations. He expressed the need for more officers, detention beds, and transportation contracts to facilitate the removal of illegal migrants. Homan emphasized that priority would still be given to criminals and national security threats.

When asked about the possibility of returning to work in a second Trump term, Homan indicated that he would "strongly consider" accepting a job if he were asked.

Jon Feere, former ICE chief of staff, emphasized that ICE already has the capacity to detain more migrants than present under the Biden administration. However, Feere acknowledged the potential need for an increase in officers, agents, and detention space, which a Trump administration would undoubtedly request from Congress.

Feere also highlighted the need for a comprehensive, government-wide approach to immigration enforcement. He suggested that various government agencies, such as Health and Human Services, the State Department, and US Citizenship and Immigration Services, could play crucial roles in reducing illegal immigration.

However, the Trump administration could encounter obstacles when deporting migrants to countries unwilling to accept their citizens. To address this issue, the State Department would need to employ section 243(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to impose visa sanctions on uncooperative countries. This approach has been effective in eliciting cooperation from foreign governments in the past, according to Feere.

Another challenge ICE would face is dealing with sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate with removal operations. While ICE prefers cooperation from all states and cities, Feere warned that those who choose not to cooperate would experience an increase in enforcement operations within their communities.

The success of Trump's proposed mass deportation effort would rely on Congressional support, the cooperation of various government agencies, and the resolution of diplomatic challenges in repatriating migrants. Although the feasibility of such an operation remains uncertain, Trump's vow underscores his commitment to immigration enforcement if he were to return to the White House.