The True Costs of Trump's Crackdown on Immigration

Back in 2013, the Migration Policy Institute reported that the federal government spends more each year on immigration enforcement, by funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol, than on all other federal law enforcement agencies combined. This spending now exceeds $19 billion per year, which is more than all of the funds spent on the FBI, the DEA, the Secret Service, the Marshals Service, and ATF combined. Likewise, ICE and Border Patrol refer more cases for federal prosecution than the entire Justice Department. The number of detained immigrants each year exceeds the number of inmates in federal prison for all federal crimes. Despite this high level of federal spending, Trump is seeking to expand the Border Patrol by 5,000 agents and ICE by 10,000 officers. Trump also has announced his intent to mobilize 100,000 National Guard troops to assist with immigration enforcement. Add the costs of those increases to a $10 – 12 billion border wall – which in reality, would cost more like $27 to 40 billion – and other federal programs and offices are sure to lose out on important funding. Furthermore, the Trump administration also has stated that it intends to add thousands of cell and beds for detained immigrants, in addition to the $5.5 million per day that the federal government is already spending to maintain about 34,000 beds for detained immigrants. These figures do not even take into account the costs to the American economy if ICE is successful in expelling all immigrants without legal status, which is estimated to be between $400 and $600 billion. The loss of these individuals also could reduce the gross national product by as much as $1 trillion. The reality is that all sectors of the economy benefit from immigrant labor in one way or another, either directly or indirectly. At Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C., we are here to help you through your deportation proceedings, how matter how complex or lengthy they may be. We can investigate your case, evaluate your ability to avoid deportation, and begin building the strongest defenses possible in your deportation proceedings. Since our law firm exclusively focuses all of our efforts on defending people just like you in deportation proceedings, we have unparalleled skills and knowledge that can be essential to being successful in your deportation case. Call us today and arrange an initial appointment with our Oakland deportation defense attorneys.