The Trump Administration has floated the idea of deporting over 10 million undocumented immigrants, a monumental logistical and operational challenge. This undertaking would not only require immense human resources but also significant construction to expand detention, processing, and support infrastructure across the country. While it may seem feasible to rely on existing airports and facilities in all 50 states, the scale and complexity of such an effort demands substantial investment in new construction and upgrades to existing infrastructure. This article explores the construction costs, timelines, and rationale behind these needs, focusing on detention facilities, transportation infrastructure, border security, and support systems.
Detention and Processing Facilities
Deportation is not an immediate process. Before individuals can be deported, they must be detained, undergo legal proceedings, and be processed.
- Current Capacity: Existing detention facilities in the U.S. are insufficient to hold even a fraction of the estimated 10 million undocumented immigrants targeted for deportation. For example, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) typically has capacity for fewer than 50,000 detainees at a time.
- Why Expansion Is Necessary: Even if detainees are rapidly deported, the high volume of individuals awaiting processing would overwhelm current facilities. Expanding detention capacity is essential to avoid bottlenecks in the deportation pipeline.
Constructing new detention facilities typically costs between $100 and $200 per square foot. Assuming an average space allocation of 70 square feet per detainee, housing 500,000 individuals could cost $3.5 billion to $7 billion. Building each facility to house 10,000 detainees would take approximately 1.5 to 3 years, with multiple facilities built simultaneously reducing the overall timeline to 2–5 years.
Transportation Infrastructure
While using existing airports in all 50 states for deportation flights might reduce costs, additional infrastructure upgrades would still be required.
- Specialized Facilities: Many airports lack secure areas for processing, holding, and boarding detainees. Temporary or permanent facilities for these purposes would need to be constructed.
- Centralized Hubs: Although deportation efforts could utilize a decentralized network of airports, centralized processing hubs would likely still be necessary to manage the volume efficiently.
The cost of transportation-related infrastructure upgrades could range from $500 million to $1 billion, depending on the scope of construction. Simple upgrades to existing facilities could take 6 months to 2 years, while constructing new transportation hubs would extend the timeline to 2–3 years.
Border Security Enhancements
Preventing re-entry of deported individuals is another key consideration that requires significant investment in border security.
- Barriers and Surveillance: Extending or upgrading physical barriers, such as border walls, could cost approximately $15 million per mile, with a large-scale enhancement project ranging from $1 billion to $3 billion.
Construction of physical barriers would take 2–4 years, while implementing high-tech surveillance solutions like cameras, drones, and sensors would be faster, typically completed within 1–2 years.
Support Infrastructure for Staffing and Administration
A large-scale deportation effort would also necessitate a significant increase in immigration officers, administrative staff, and legal personnel.
- New Facilities: Housing, training centers, and offices for thousands of new staff members would require new construction or upgrades, adding another $500 million to $1 billion to the total cost.
- Timeline: Building these facilities would require 1–3 years, depending on whether new construction or retrofitting existing buildings is prioritized.
Why Existing Infrastructure Isn’t Enough
The scale of this operation far exceeds the capacity of current U.S. infrastructure. The existing network of detention facilities and immigration courts would become overwhelmed, leading to inefficiencies, delays, and potential legal challenges. Even with the utilization of airports across all 50 states, deportation logistics require specialized holding areas, secure boarding processes, and transportation hubs. The detention and processing infrastructure is a critical bottleneck, as deportation isn’t instantaneous, and individuals must await legal proceedings.
In addition, the staffing requirements for immigration officers, legal professionals, and support personnel would necessitate significant investments in training and housing facilities. Without substantial construction and upgrades, the system would struggle to handle the unprecedented volume of individuals targeted for deportation.
Total Costs and Timeline
The combined construction costs for detention facilities, transportation upgrades, border security, and support systems could range from $5 billion to $12 billion, depending on the execution strategy. The overall timeline for completing all necessary construction is estimated at 3–7 years, though expedited approaches using modular construction could reduce this to 2–4 years.
Conclusion
A deportation plan targeting over 10 million undocumented immigrants is not only a political and logistical challenge but also an enormous construction undertaking. The required infrastructure upgrades would include new detention facilities, processing hubs, border enhancements, and support infrastructure for expanded staffing. Even with the use of existing airports and facilities, the sheer volume of individuals involved makes new construction essential. Policymakers and industry leaders must carefully evaluate the costs, timelines, and logistical feasibility before implementing such an ambitious plan.
