Staff Reports
In the aftermath of the recent elections, President-elect Donald Trump is doubling down on his commitment to rid the country of the millions of illegal migrants that flooded in under the watch of President Joe Biden. While many Americans are eager to see action on this front, a few top Republicans are throwing cold water on the idea, suggesting that maybe this whole deportation thing isn’t as easy as waving a magic wand.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune recently made waves by questioning the practicality of Trump’s plan while chatting with a host on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Despite being a member of the GOP, Thune seemed overwhelmed by the numbers when he started counting the criminals—yes, actual criminals—living next door. He pointed out that over a million people are already on the radar for deportation due to their not-so-great habits. Thune went further down the rabbit hole, noting that there’s an astonishing ten million illegals who strolled across the border thanks to policies that rolled out in the past few years.
Thune: mass deportations might not be realistic and the President needs a more realistic plan.
Not exactly a ringing endorsement. pic.twitter.com/mS4sk9oatT
— Insurrection Barbie (@DefiyantlyFree) January 5, 2025
Thune even raised alarms about the veritable smorgasbord of dangers—a “who’s who” of potential threats browsing through America’s neighborhoods. He identified the terrorists on the border watchlist, gang members, and cartel affiliates as just a few of the lovely guests that Biden’s open-door policy has welcomed into the country. It’s like inviting the wolf into the henhouse and then wondering why the chickens are disappearing.
But when pressed on whether it’s realistic to get rid of everyone living in the country illegally, Thune reached for the political safety net, avoiding a firm answer. Instead, he promised to ensure that Trump’s administration would have the necessary resources. Unfortunately, it seems that Thune is caught in a spiral of indecision, tweaking his response based on who’s handing him the mic. The question remains: if GOP leadership isn’t fully on board with Trump’s vision, what exactly will they do about the immigration crisis?
In a surprising twist, Trump seems to have softened his approach when it comes to those illegal aliens brought to the U.S. as children, or what the left likes to call “dreamers.” In recent comments, Trump acknowledged that these individuals may have become productive members of society, earning decent paychecks and running small (or even large) businesses. This raises an interesting conundrum: will Trump actually take a more nuanced route, or is this merely political posturing? Only time will tell.
While it’s clear that the zealous campaign promises around immigration are meeting some triple-digit reality checks, one thing is abundantly evident. America’s illegal immigration situation is far from solved, and the outcomes will be a blend of tough-love deportations and possibly some unexpected leniency for certain groups. Whatever the case, the coming months will surely provide plenty of head-scratching, eye-rolling, and a few chuckles at the ever-evolving narrative of immigration in America.
