Donald Trump's Local Newspaper Ridicules Mass Deportation Plan

A local newspaper in President-elect Donald Trump’s home state of Florida has criticized his controversial mass deportation policy, describing it as "half-baked."

"Truth is, there is no need to call 160 lawmakers from across the state to somehow come up with legislation to address a half-baked immigration plan that relies heavily on mass deportation—a move that would cripple Florida and its key industries of agriculture, construction, and tourism that the governor is supposed to support," an op-ed published by The Palm Beach Post stated.

Why It Matters

Immigration and the economy were top concerns for Florida voters during the 2024 presidential election.

What To Know

The incoming Trump administration is expected to roll out a mass deportation program among its flagship immigration policies within its first few days. Trump has indicated that the program will focus on individuals who have committed additional crimes, although he has also referenced figures of up to 11 million people—the estimated number of undocumented immigrants residing in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center.

The op-ed from The Palm Beach Post came after Governor Ron DeSantis called for a special session of the Florida Legislature to prepare for Trump's immigration policies. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, shortly after Republican governors met with Trump at Mar-A-Lago, DeSantis remarked, "This is the time to get it right once and for all."

While Florida banned sanctuary cities shortly after DeSantis assumed office in 2019, the state’s significant immigrant population—including approximately 4.8 million immigrants, a quarter of whom are undocumented—presents challenges for implementing the incoming administration’s hardline immigration agenda. DeSantis asserted that new legislation would be necessary to enforce Trump’s policies.

The Palm Beach Post argued that Florida residents face "more pressing issues," such as inflation and the rising cost of living. The American Immigration Council estimated that the mass removal policy could result in a one-time expense of $315 billion for the U.S. Deporting one million individuals annually could incur costs as high as $88 billion per year. Additionally, the American Business Immigration Coalition warned that agricultural output could decline by $30 to $60 billion if Trump's policy is enacted.

What People Are Saying

An op-ed by The Palm Beach Post reads: "There are already laws that allow local law enforcers and federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement to collaborate to fight illegal immigration, and go after those undocumented immigrants who have broken the law. Typically, special legislative sessions are called to deal with big Florida problems, and once the lawmakers arrive in the state capitol, there are specific bills to consider to address those problems."

Trump-Vance transition team spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Newsweek: "President Trump will enlist every federal power and coordinate with state authorities to institute the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug dealers, and human traffickers in American history while simultaneously lowering costs for families. The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin, giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail, like deporting migrant criminals and restoring our economic greatness. He will deliver."

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated at a press conference: "We need to act, and we need to act quickly. We don’t have time to waste. The American people spoke very clearly."

What Happens Next

A special legislative session in Florida has been scheduled for January 27, 2025. DeSantis announced that the session will also address natural disaster relief and the process of amending the state constitution through citizen-initiated petitions.