Trump's New Immigration Policy: Keeping Families Together — By Sending Them Back

What Happened?

President-elect Donald Trump proposed in an interview over the weekend that any families with a mixed immigration status should be deported together.

He unveiled these plans to Meet the Press' Kristin Welker, echoing earlier comments from his "border czar" Tom Homan.

Seeking to avoid the type of family separation scandals that plagued his administration in his first term, Trump admitted it would take bold action. In order to do so, mixed-immigration families (illegal immigrants with children who are U.S. citizens) must leave together.

There are an estimated 4.7 million households in the United States that are classified as mixed-status, meaning that they house at least one illegal resident as well as one U.S. citizen or legal noncitizen resident, according to the Center for Migration Studies.

Why it Matters

Trump's past separation policy, which saw nearly 4,000 children separated from their parents, was a source of intense criticism and gave rise to humanitarian concerns during his first tenure in Washington.

It appears the president-elect is aiming to avoid those same criticisms when he takes office next month for his second term.

'I don't want to be breaking up families, so the only way you don't break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back,' Trump said in an interview with Welker on Sunday.

When asked by Welker what this new approach could mean for the children of illegal immigrants who themselves are here legally, he said, 'Well, what you've got to do if they want to stay with their father — look, we have to have rules and regulations.'

While Trump did seem to acknowledge the new policy would be unpopular, he was adamant that it was necessary to ensure immigration laws were followed. Trump also stated he would end birthright citizenship on the very first day of his administration, vowing to circumvent the 14th Amendment's edict that grants citizenship.

He said, 'We're going to have to get it changed. We'll maybe have to go back to the people. But we have to end it.'

Although he showed conviction in his plans to sidestep the 14^th Amendment, he did not detail any specific plans for what will likely be a difficult constitutional battle.

However, Trump did seem to be open to allowing Dreamers, who were brought to the U.S. and granted protections, to stay in the country.

He even seemed optimistic about a bipartisan plan with Democratic lawmakers, stating, 'We have to do something about the Dreamers,' adding later they will 'work with the Democrats on a plan.'

How it Affects You

Critics have argued Trump's proposed policies may have negative consequences for the families and communities in question.

But supporters of this new approach have maintained that these aggressive policies are necessary to enforce immigration laws and dissuade any future illegals from entering through the southern border.

Many have criticized the U.S. immigration system as overly lenient and believe Trump and Homan's proposed plan is an imperative step in restoring order.

As Trump prepares to take office for his second term next month, immigration remains a controversial issue. Whether his proposals gain traction, and he garners the bipartisan support he seemed open to is something only time will tell.

Until then, the country will continue to watch as the issue of immigration once again takes center stage in American politics.