Trump's Deportation Machine: How Quiet Plans Became A Bold National Crackdown
The Trump administration’s sweeping deportation strategy—long discussed in theory—is now rapidly taking shape in practice. And its scale is catching many Americans off guard.
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily backed a major pillar of the administration’s deportation plan: allowing migrants from countries like Cuba and Venezuela to be deported—not to their home nations, but to third-party countries, including some as far as Africa.
Meanwhile, in Florida, construction has begun on a massive migrant detention facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” due to its remote Everglades location surrounded by swamps and wildlife. The center is designed to house up to 5,000 detainees and will help ICE manage the surge in arrests.
In another major development, CNN revealed that the administration is preparing to revoke protections for large groups of asylum seekers—many of whom were previously allowed to live and work legally in the U.S.—effectively turning them into undocumented immigrants overnight.
CNN's Priscilla Alvarez, who broke the story, explained how all these pieces fit together into a broader, highly coordinated effort to expand deportations and rewrite America’s immigration landscape.
A New Class of Deportables
WOLF: Your reporting highlights a major expansion in who’s now eligible for deportation. What did you uncover?
ALVAREZ: The administration is targeting individuals who entered the U.S. unlawfully and later applied for asylum. The plan is to reject their asylum claims en masse—potentially affecting hundreds of thousands—and make them immediately deportable.
USCIS, traditionally seen as the agency that grants immigration benefits, has been given new authority by the Department of Homeland Security to initiate rapid deportation proceedings. As one ACLU advocate told me: “They’ve turned USCIS into an enforcement arm of ICE.”
Broadening the Net
WOLF: This isn’t just about deporting criminals, as Trump initially promised, right?
ALVAREZ: Correct. While the administration said early on it would prioritize people with criminal records, that strategy hasn’t met arrest targets. The goal is now 3,000 arrests per day—something not achievable if limited to criminal cases.
So now, the administration is targeting anyone in the country unlawfully, regardless of criminal history. Even some Republican lawmakers have asked the White House for clarity on who exactly is being arrested.
Who’s Being Targeted?
WOLF: With so many immigration statuses—TPS, asylum, parole—it’s hard to keep track. How do these groups differ, and who’s at risk?
ALVAREZ:
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Temporary Protected Status (TPS) covers people from nations deemed too unsafe for return. The Trump administration has tried to revoke TPS for several countries, claiming conditions have improved—though that’s highly disputed.
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Parole programs allow legal entry from countries like Cuba and Venezuela, bypassing the border. These were expanded under Biden but are now being reevaluated.
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Asylum-seekers apply from within the U.S., while refugees apply from abroad. Both groups are under increased scrutiny.
All of these categories have been systematically targeted under Trump, stripping people of protections and making them deportable—even those previously allowed to work and live in the U.S.
From Legal Worker to Undocumented
WOLF: So people who were once protected and working legally are now undocumented?
ALVAREZ: Exactly. I’ve heard from employers in agriculture, construction, and manufacturing who legally hired migrants with valid work permits. Now, those permits are being revoked, and these workers are suddenly undocumented.
We don’t have solid numbers yet, but the trend is clear: as protections vanish, the undocumented population is growing.
Supreme Court Greenlights Third-Country Deportations
WOLF: The Supreme Court just gave the green light for deportations to places like South Sudan. What’s the significance?
ALVAREZ: Huge. The administration can now deport people not to their home countries, but to any third country willing to accept them. This vastly increases deportation capacity.
It raises serious due process concerns: Are migrants given notice? Can they contest being sent somewhere they’ve never been?
But from the administration’s perspective, this ruling removes a major legal roadblock and accelerates their plan.
Inside “Alligator Alcatraz”
WOLF: What’s the purpose of the new detention center in the Everglades?
ALVAREZ: With over 58,000 people already in ICE custody—well beyond capacity—the administration needs new facilities. “Alligator Alcatraz” is a quick-build center using FEMA funds, surrounded by natural barriers like alligator-infested swamps to reduce escape risks.
It’s likely a preview of more deals with states, private companies, or even military bases to hold detainees as arrest numbers climb.
Connecting the Dots
WOLF: Are we finally seeing the full scope of Trump’s immigration agenda?
ALVAREZ: Yes. For years, the administration worked quietly through regulations, internal policy shifts, and diplomatic backchannels. Now, it’s all coming into the open.
Stephen Miller, Trump’s key immigration advisor, knows the system inside out. The administration has methodically cleared legal and logistical hurdles. If Congress passes the billions they’re requesting, they’ll have the money and infrastructure to fully execute this plan.
We’re witnessing the final assembly of a long-orchestrated strategy that could transform U.S. immigration policy—and the lives of millions—dramatically.
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