Trump's second term could trigger family separation crisis with mass deportations

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, his pledge to initiate mass deportations raises fears of widespread family separation in the U.S.

Trump has vowed to rely on an 18th-century law to deport “known or suspected gang members, drug dealers, or cartel members,” which could affect millions of mixed-status households — those with both undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens. Vice President-elect JD Vance has targeted 1 million deportations, yet it remains unclear if exceptions will be made for undocumented immigrants with long-term U.S. residency or U.S.-born children.

With an estimated 4.7 million mixed-status households, studies from the Center for Migration Studies estimate that 1.8 million U.S.-born children could see their family structure disrupted, leading to psychological trauma and economic hardship. A 2024 report projected that household incomes for affected children could drop from $75,500 to $39,000 annually. The loss of undocumented parents' productivity would reduce tax contributions by nearly $96.7 billion, placing additional financial burdens on social services.

Trump's plan echoes the severe impacts of his 2018 “zero tolerance” policy, which resulted in lasting trauma among separated children. If enacted, his mass deportation program could separate families on an unprecedented scale. However, whether Congress will support the budget required remains uncertain, as control of the House is still undecided.