Trump shutstles U.S. immigrants across nation, charging substantial fees

Massive Deportation Budget: Trump's Costly Crusade to Expel U.S. Immigrants

Trump charges substantial fees to transport American immigrants nationwide.

By Leah Nowak

Behind Closed Doors: The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is transferring migrants from one detention facility to another. These relocations often occur in remote prisons, isolating detainees and limiting contact with the outside world. The transportation of immigrants is a systematic and costly endeavor.

Shortly after Donald Trump took office on January 20, he made a promise: "We'll kick out millions of criminal immigrants." According to Trump's spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, hundreds of migrants were arrested, and a significant number were deported in the following days. On Twitter, Leavitt forecasted "the biggest deportation wave in history."

Three months later, there are no reliable figures on actual deportations. Instead, ICE is transporting thousands of individuals across state borders to distant detention centers. Although the shifting of detained migrants between facilities is not unusual in the U.S., such practices have increased since Trump entered office[1]. An analysis by the Bloomberg economics portal revealed that the number of transfers hit an all-time high in February 2025, compared to any other month in the last 13 years. Almost half of these transfers occurred during the Trump administration, whereas, under Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, it was only one in four instances.

Data Protection ICE possesses broad discretion in transferring detainees, citing the "Immigration and Nationality Act." ICE asserts that the purpose of these transfers is to avoid overcrowding in detention centers, facilitate deportations by moving affected individuals closer to airports, and safeguard the welfare of detainees for their own protection[2]. All transfers are thoroughly documented and justified by ICE officials.

"Expensive and Inefficient"

Bob Libal, a prominent civil rights activist and strategist at "The Sentencing Project," a non-profit organization in Washington, D.C., believes that many transports lack specific reasons. According to Libal, these deportations are primarily an additional drain on public funds. "The entire detention system is overpriced and costs taxpayers billions each year," he says in the Podcast "Wieder was gelernt."

The transportation of detainees is funded by taxpayers. According to Bloomberg's report, the Trump administration's policies have led to a 29% increase in travel costs for these transports in the two months following Trump's inauguration, totaling around $31 million[1].

One reason for this increase is that the detention centers are often constructed in secluded locations, leading to high transportation costs. Moreover, these facilities are out of the public eye and media scrutiny[1]. "Out of sight, out of mind," says Libal. This strategy aims to maintain secrecy around the conditions within these facilities.

Civil Rights Human rights organizations also question the motives behind these mass deportations. The sudden transfers leave individuals feeling disoriented and isolated, as they are often separated from friends, family, and support systems[2]. Certain groups of immigrants are more susceptible to these practices, with over a quarter of those imprisoned by ICE in the South and Southwest being more than eight hours away from their original place of arrest[2]. Affected individuals have reported shackling during transports, inadequate food, and being kept in remote locations with limited access to legal representation[2].

Libal has been advocating for the rights of immigrants for over 20 years. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the individual experiences behind these "faceless numbers." As more people become aware of the harsh realities faced by immigrants within these detention facilities, opposition to mass deportations may grow and public sentiment- David and Goliath style.

Wieder was gelernt Podcast: "Wieder was gelernt" is a podcast for the intellectually curious, featuring insights on a variety of topics, both local and global. From exploring the character of U.S politicos to debunking conspiracy theories about Europe’s agricultural regions, episode releases occur three times each week. To access episodes, check out the ntv app, RTL, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Alternatively, subscribe to the podcast via the RSS feed to keep up with new releases in all other podcast apps. Do you have a question? Email us at [email protected].

[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-19/ice-migrant-transfers-reach-new-high-under-trump-administration[2] https://www.politico.com/news/2018/06/30/ice-migrant-facilities-remote-locations-474506[3] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-administration-self-deportation-immigrants-legal-status-a9414711.html

The massive deportation budget under President Trump's administration, evident in the transfer of migrants across state borders to distant detention centers, is a topic of debate in both general-news and politics, with many questioning the employment policy and community policy implications.
As the transportation of detainees for deportation increases, concerns surrounding the expense and inefficiency of this system have become more prominent, with civil rights activists like Bob Libal calling for a reevaluation of these employment policies in the context of the significant cost burden on taxpayers.