Trump Administration's Deportation Plan Projected to Cost $268.9 Billion

The National Priorities Project at the Institute for Policy Studies projects the Trump administration will spend $268.9 billion on deportations over the president's full second term, with costs distributed down to county levels. Los Angeles County, California, tops the list at roughly $9.25 billion, followed by New York County, New York, at $6.52 billion, Cook County, Illinois, at $5.11 billion, and Santa Clara County, California, at $4.96 billion. King County, Washington; Harris County, Texas; Miami-Dade County, Florida; Orange County, California; Maricopa County, Arizona; and Palm Beach County, Florida, also rank among the highest-cost jurisdictions.

In Los Angeles County, the money could fund over 24,000 teachers, while in Cook County, it could support over 154,500 public housing units or 14,635 nurses. Supporters argue the spending is necessary to enforce immigration law and deter illegal crossings, while critics say it diverts resources from domestic priorities. Jeremy Beck, co-president of NumbersUSA, told Newsweek that the most cost-effective way to address the border crisis is to remove the illegal-employment incentive for migrants to stay.