The case for mass deportations

President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to “launch the largest deportation of criminals in American history.” That is a quote from a Nov. 2 rally in Salem, Virginia, but Trump has said precisely the same thing dozens of times. Still, through the course of a long campaign, with his improvisational style, Trump has occasionally worded his pledge differently. For example, at his Madison Square Garden rally, Trump said, “On day one, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history to get the criminals out.” At an Oct. 25 event in Austin, Texas, Trump said he “will launch the largest deportation program in American history” before adding, “We have no choice. We have got to get all of these criminals, these murderers, and drug dealers, and everything, we’re getting them out.” Back on May 24, at his rally in the South Bronx, Trump pledged to “immediately begin the largest criminal deportation operation in our country’s history.”