“Trump Was Elected to Get Rid of Immigrants”: Voters Back Mass Deportation

President-elect Donald Trump’s narrow electoral victory in a sharply divided country has sparked debate over his mandate, with a significant number of his supporters citing immigration — specifically mass deportation — as their top priority. A New York Times focus group released Tuesday highlighted how immigration fueled Trump’s support among voters.

Direnda, a 66-year-old house cleaner from Kentucky, was unequivocal about her expectations for Trump. “He’s been elected to get rid of all these immigrants that have come into major cities and have caused problems,” she said. Direnda emphasized her family’s legal immigration history as a contrast to undocumented immigrants. “My father is from Iceland… He spent four years in the American military. He became a citizen, and he worked for it.

He didn’t sneak in to do it. I have seen a lot of theft and crime, and it revolves around people that are not documented.” When asked directly if she supported mass deportation, she replied, “I really do, because it does throw the United States in a whirlwind.”

Nicholas, a 20-year-old driver from New York, echoed similar sentiments, describing how immigration personally impacted him. “Trump was elected to defend the people of our country. Illegal immigration, now, that is something that does affect me personally,” he said. He recounted an incident at Floyd Bennett Field migrant shelter in Brooklyn, where migrants were temporarily housed at his former school during a storm.

“People could not go to school the next day because we had to house them.” Kathi, a 57-year-old property manager from Ohio, expressed concerns that extended beyond undocumented immigration. “They come here. They get so many benefits. I think we need to move a little bit away from keep talking about the illegals and talking about immigration in general.”

Remarkably, eight out of the 13 focus group participants supported Trump’s plans for mass deportation. Even Noah, the sole Latino panelist, backed the proposal. However, the feasibility of Trump’s deportation plans remains uncertain. Removing millions of people would require unprecedented resources for adjudication, processing, and transportation.

Experts argue that such an effort would strain federal agencies and face significant legal challenges. Some of Trump’s advisers have reportedly considered extreme measures, including enlisting local sheriffs and volunteers or even deporting individuals to countries they’ve never visited if their home nations refuse repatriation.

As Trump prepares to take office, these focus group insights underscore the role of immigration in his victory and the mounting pressures to fulfill his hardline promises — no matter how daunting the logistics may be.