Inside Trump’s plan to deport ‘nearly 20 million’ illegal migrants from the US

Asked by The Post whether he would go back to work in a second Trump term, Homan said he would “strongly consider” taking a job if asked.

Jon Feere, former ICE chief of staff under Trump, said “there’s no doubt that ICE would benefit from a significant increase in officers, agents and detention space” and that a Trump administration would “undoubtedly” make that request known to Congress.

But, Feere argued, ICE already has the capacity to detain more migrants than are currently being held under the Biden administration.

“This effort will likely include city-wide operations where officers from different parts of the country are brought in to conduct work site investigations and make arrests within the course of weeks within in any given jurisdiction,” he added.

“This will require a whole government approach,” Feere went on. “Every part of the government that has a nexus to immigration has a role to play here. From Health and Human Services, to the State Department, to US Citizenship and Immigration Services, every part of the government can assist in reducing illegal immigration.

Feere also said that “I’m sure I will be” involved “in some capacity” if Trump takes office, but did not say what role he might play

Apart from the reluctance of a possible Democratic-run Congress to fund enhanced enforcement operations, a Trump administration could run into hurdles deporting migrants to their countries of origin if those governments refuse re-entry. That problem would have to be solved through the work of the State Department, along with a hardline foreign policy, the ex-officials told The Post.

Feere argued the Statement Department could use the Section 243(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to issue visa sanctions against countries that refuse to take back their citizens.

“When a country hears that the United States will not allow its residents in if they don’t take their people back, those countries quickly cooperate,” he told The Post.

ICE must also work around the problem of sanctuary cities who refuse to co-operate with removal operations, Feere said.

“ICE would prefer that all states and cities cooperate with federal law enforcement,” he warned. “But those that choose not to are going to see an increase in operations within their communities. ICE will have no choice but to conduct large operations.”