Trump Official’s ‘100 Million Deportation’ Post Sparks Outrage

A recent social media post from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ignited significant backlash, as it suggested the possibility of deporting 100 million individuals from the country. The post, which depicted a vision of America after this extensive deportation, raised alarms among legal experts, civil liberties organizations, and political leaders alike.

The controversial image, shared via a verified DHS account on X (formerly Twitter), included a caption stating, “The peace of a nation no longer besieged by the third world.” This message was met with immediate criticism for its inflammatory nature and the unrealistic numerical claim that far exceeds the current estimates of the undocumented population in the United States.

According to recent estimates, the total foreign-born population in the U.S. stands at approximately 45 million. Immigration attorney Aaron Reichlin-Melnick highlighted the absurdity of the claim, noting that the proposed deportation figure would necessitate the removal of millions of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. He emphasized that achieving such a target would require targeting native-born citizens, raising serious constitutional concerns.

Former U.S. Air Force General Counsel Charles Blanchard also condemned the post, questioning the motivations behind it. He remarked, “In order to deport 100 million people, tens of millions of U.S. citizens would need to be deported.” Blanchard further criticized the DHS social media team, suggesting they could be either “filled with idiots or white supremacists.”

The legal framework governing deportation in the United States primarily focuses on non-citizens who violate immigration laws. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments protect the due process rights of citizens. The Supreme Court has consistently ruled that citizenship cannot be revoked without clear legislative authority, making mass denaturalisation unfeasible.

Historically, even the most aggressive immigration enforcement measures have not approached the scale suggested in the DHS post. For context, during President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Operation Wetback in 1954, approximately 1.3 million Mexican nationals were removed over several months, a stark contrast to the proposed 100 million.

DHS has previously engaged in high-visibility messaging regarding immigration. In March 2025, the department launched an international campaign encouraging undocumented migrants to “self-deport” while highlighting potential future legal consequences. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated that “America’s borders are closed to lawbreakers,” emphasizing the administration’s commitment to public safety.

Despite these efforts, experts argue that achieving a deportation figure of 100 million, even through voluntary departure incentives, is detached from demographic realities. An immigration policy analyst stated, “This is not a routine enforcement number; it’s a nation-altering figure.”

In addition to constitutional barriers, the logistics of removing 100 million people are daunting. Deportation entails complex legal processes, detention infrastructure, and international cooperation. The resources and personnel required for such a massive operation would far exceed current capabilities.

Internal discussions within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last year revealed plans for an unprecedented $100 million recruitment and media campaign aimed at hiring thousands of new agents to bolster enforcement efforts. However, these initiatives were designed to enhance staffing rather than achieve the astronomical deportation figures now circulating.

Without clear guidance from DHS or the White House, the controversy surrounding this post is expected to remain a significant topic of legal, political, and public discourse as 2026 unfolds. The implications of such a statement resonate deeply within the ongoing debates about immigration policy and the treatment of individuals residing in the United States.