In addition to making it more difficult for immigrants to safely arrive in the United States and begin new lives, President Trump’s executive orders will also put a large burden on taxpayers and the national debt due to their enormous costs:
Border wall: $21.6 billion
The border wall was President Trump’s most famous campaign promise, and it could be one of the most expensive single executive orders in history. The CBP already oversees a 653-mile stretch of fencing along the country’s southwestern border, but Trump’s plan is to build a wall that spans the remaining 1,257 miles of border between the U.S. and Mexico. Estimates show that each mile of border wall would cost around $16 million, with a finally tally of around $21.6 billion for a completed wall.
Hiring surge for CBP and ICE: $614 million through Fiscal Year 2018
The number of agents patrolling the border more than doubled between FY 2003 and FY 2016 from 10,000 to around 21,000. President Trump wants to hire 15,000 additional border patrol agents and officers, and he requested $300 million to do so. He also requested $314 million in extra funds to begin the process of hiring 500 border patrol agents and 1,000 ICE enforcement and removal officers in FY 2018.
Border prosecutions: Millions of dollars diverted from the prosecution of violent offenders
In the past decade, the Department of Justice and the DHS have both increased numbers of criminal prosecutions against people who crossed into the U.S. without proper inspection. President Trump wants to further increase those numbers by calling for millions of additional dollars to employ 60 additional border enforcement prosecutors rather than investing resources in the prosecution of violent criminals.
ICE detention increases: More than $4.5 billion
President Trump has requested that the DHS indefinitely detain large numbers of people that it apprehends, including children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and pregnant women. ICE receives enough money from Congress to support 34,000 beds in detention centers, but the agency exceeds its capacity by detaining around 41,000 people every day at a cost of $126.46 per single bed and $161.36 per family bed, amounting to more than $2 billion in costs. President Trump’s plan would include an additional $1.15 million for ICE to increase its number of beds to 45,700 in FY 2017 and an additional $1.5 billion in FY 2018.
Need to Speak with a Knoxville Immigration Attorney? Call Us Today!
President Trump’s executive orders and actions on immigration have made many people and their families anxious about their futures. If you have any questions or concerns about your status or the status of your loved ones in the U.S., don’t hesitate to call Jennings Immigration Law Office today at (865) 470-0788.
