Unique Research · Policy · December 2, 2024
On the campaign trail Trump pledged “the largest deportation operation in American history” — including a Tucson, Arizona rally on Sept 12. Naming hardliner Thomas Homan as “border czar” and Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff for policy signals a hard line, even as the transition team has offered few details. Trump told NBC he has “no choice” but mass deportations “whatever the cost,” and vows to end Temporary Protected Status for individuals. Homan earlier: “Nobody is off the table… If you’re here illegally, you’d better be looking over your shoulder” — promising “the largest deportation force this country has ever seen.”
Logistics are brutal. AI may help. AI was not widely used in Trump’s first immigration crackdown; it is now far more available across systems and agencies. The Biden administration also pushed DHS budget and org focus toward AI: an AI Safety and Security Board in April; FY2025 DHS budget includes $5M for an AI office under the CIO — standards, policy, oversight for “responsible use.” Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas: transformative tech with real risks, mitigable via best practices.
Experts now worry DHS’s mission will pivot to deportation with untested AI. DHS declined to speculate; Trump transition and Homan did not respond to comment requests.
Petra Molnar — lawyer/anthropologist, author of The Walls Have Eyes, Berkman Klein faculty — has criticized Democratic AI use at the border but expects more weaponization under Trump: “They’ve signaled the largest deportation in U.S. history, and they have the tools — a surveillance net not only at the border but inland, across communities.” A full industry ecosystem already polices borders and migration; private firms led machine dogs (“Snoopy,” “Sniffer”), drones, AI towers. “Much surveillance tech expanded under Democrats; the new administration has signaled tech will assist their goals.”
Remaya Campbell, acting DHS commissioner for D.C.: AI can automate immigration decisions, bypassing traditional process — “identify people for deportation with little regard for privacy or due process,” operating on values users encode. Under Trump that means “amplifying intersecting bias to fit political priorities… not a tool for efficiency, fairness, and safety, but for systemic bias and authoritarian rule.”
Neil Sahota (UN AI for Good advisor): CBP already uses ML-capable AI drones to spot anomalous crossing patterns — people vs. animals vs. vehicles, fewer false positives; AI sensor towers for 24/7 coverage. Expect more AI surveillance, automated patrols, expanded biometric screening. Privacy concerns especially near the border. “Enhanced AI surveillance will be a cornerstone of Trump’s deportation strategy” — faster removals, with rights and racial-discrimination risks. Face recognition and behavior analysis misidentify; “What if the system wrongly flags a legal resident or citizen for removal? Devastating for families and communities.”
Laura MacCleery (UnidosUS): AI accuracy problems are known — worse for people of color. DMV records, utility bills, border/airport face recognition can be AI-enhanced for enforcement. “Concern about mass deportation is intensified ICE use of AI and more capability to watch public data.” U.S. citizens living with mixed-status households will be swept in; lawful residents’ due-process rights may be violated — “inevitable consequence of overusing this tech.”
Marina Shepelsky (NY immigration attorney) is less dystopian: “He’s a businessman — he’ll see value in letting AI grow to make lawyers, doctors, scientists’ lives easier.” She expects deregulation and growth under Musk influence — more foreign AI talent, less red tape. “I may dislike some policies, but on AI I think he’ll push development and more flexible law.”
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