Trump Administration Expands Immigration Enforcement with Record Funding

US President Donald Trump is set to initiate a more stringent approach to irregular immigration by 2026, characterized by unprecedented funding and an extensive expansion of enforcement and detention operations. Observers view this move as politically motivated, coinciding with a significant shift in security policy.

According to Reuters, Trump has decided to intensify the campaign for mass deportations, even as public and political dissent rises ahead of next year’s midterm elections, where Republicans aim to maintain their majority.

Increased Enforcement and Early Escalation

In recent months, the US administration has deployed immigration enforcement units to major cities, conducting raids in residential areas that have led to clashes with local residents. These incidents have sparked widespread debate about the limits of force and the authority of federal agencies.

Despite notable raids on businesses and offices, the agency has largely avoided targeting large agricultural operations and factories that have historically relied on undocumented workers.

Unprecedented Financial Boost

The most significant change involves funding. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol are set to receive up to $170 billion in additional funding by September 2029, compared to their current annual budgets of approximately $19 billion.

This funding increase followed the approval of a massive spending package by the Republican-controlled Congress in July, providing the White House with considerable financial flexibility to implement its strict agenda.

According to US government sources, the plan includes hiring thousands of new staff, opening additional detention centers, utilizing local jails for immigrant detention, and partnering with private companies to enhance enforcement and arrest capabilities.

Domestic Political Repercussions

Reflecting growing public discontent, Miami elected its first Democratic mayor in nearly 30 years last week, in a city significantly impacted by immigration policies due to its large immigrant population.

Other local elections and polls have shown increasing concern, even among conservative voter bases, regarding methods perceived as violent or exceeding legal boundaries in handling immigration issues.

“Militarization of Neighborhoods”

Moderate Republican strategist Mike Madrid states that the situation is no longer viewed solely as an immigration issue but as a violation of rights and legal processes, along with the militarization of neighborhoods outside constitutional limits. He warns that this trajectory could become a political liability for Trump and his party.

Trump’s approval rating regarding immigration has dropped from 50% in March to 41% by mid-December, amid images of federal agents deploying tear gas in residential areas and mistakenly detaining American citizens.

Social and Economic Costs

Locally, the impacts of the campaign are becoming evident. Some businesses have closed to avoid raids or due to a decline in customers, while parents at risk of arrest are keeping their children home from school or seeking help from neighbors for transportation, fearing detentions.

Concerns are so significant that some American citizens have begun carrying their passports domestically, anxious about their identities being questioned.

Data from ICE indicates that 41% of approximately 54,000 individuals arrested by the end of November had no prior criminal records aside from immigration violations.

Targeted Actions Beyond Irregular Immigrants

The measures are not limited to undocumented immigrants. Legal immigrants have also been detained, including spouses of US citizens during permanent residency interviews and individuals close to obtaining US citizenship, along with the revocation of thousands of student visas.

While Trump justifies these policies as necessary to stop what he describes as "chaos" at the border during his predecessor Joe Biden's administration, critics argue that the United States is entering an unprecedented phase of immigration enforcement that could redefine the relationship between the state and immigrants, posing a significant test for concepts of rights and freedoms within American society.