On the most recent episode of Last Week Tonight, John Oliver delved into the practical implications of Donald Trump’s pledge to carry out mass deportations of undocumented individuals, a key element of his campaign. This idea has varying levels of support, with around 54% of Americans and 86% of Republicans backing some version of it. Oliver pointed out that many Trump supporters embrace the concept of mass deportation without fully grasping the details or consequences. He emphasized, “The fact is, a lot of people seem to be supporting something right now whose implications they may not fully understand.”
Oliver explored the logistical challenges of implementing mass deportation, stating unequivocally, “For the record, the morality of it is despicable.” He reminded viewers that immigrants are human beings, regardless of derogatory statements made about them. The scale of Trump’s proposal is immense, involving the removal of approximately 13 million people, exceeding the population of Ohio. Executing such a plan would necessitate processes such as arrest, detention, and legal procedures, requiring a substantial increase in government employees and law enforcement officers, estimated at 220,000 to 409,000 new hires. Reflecting on the detention aspect, Oliver humorously noted the challenge of detaining 13 million individuals, considering the total US prison and jail population is 1.9 million. He quipped, “And we have a lot of prisons and jails in this country. They are kinda our thing.”
Even if only a million people were deported annually, as suggested by JD Vance in a callous interview with Bill O’Reilly, the cost would be an estimated $88 billion each year, primarily allocated towards constructing detention facilities. Over a decade, this would amount to nearly $1 trillion. Oliver criticized the impracticality and immorality of such proposals, highlighting the unrealistic nature of Trump and Vance’s claims.
In a hypothetical scenario where mass deportation was a viable policy, Oliver argued that it would not address the issues Trump’s campaign asserts it would solve. Contrary to Republican arguments, deportation would not reduce unemployment, as evidenced by data from the Obama era indicating that for every 500,000 undocumented workers deported, 44,000 fewer jobs were held by native-born Americans. Companies reliant on immigrant labor would face closures, impacting the economy. Oliver cited projections suggesting a potential GDP loss of 4.2 to 6.8%, equivalent to the Great Recession.
Regarding housing, Oliver disputed Vance’s assertion that deporting undocumented individuals would alleviate housing issues by adjusting supply and demand dynamics. He humorously critiqued Vance, stating, “Even if that wasn’t total bullshit, JD Vance’s very existence is proof that supply and demand doesn’t always work.” Economists have warned that mass deportations could exacerbate the housing crisis, given the significant contribution of undocumented individuals to the construction sector.
Furthermore, mass deportation would not lead to a decrease in violent crime, with immigrants statistically less likely to commit crimes compared to native-born individuals. FBI data indicates a decline in violent crime since 2020. Despite these facts, Trump and his allies like Stephen Miller have propagated falsehoods about immigrant invasions in cities like Aurora, Colorado, and Springfield, Ohio, which local residents have vehemently refuted.
Oliver highlighted the potential misuse of such false panics to consolidate power, suggesting that Trump could exploit these narratives to invoke draconian measures like the Illegal Aliens Act for accelerated deportations without due process. He urged viewers to engage with individuals inclined to support Trump’s immigration policies, emphasizing the importance of understanding the actual implications and advocating for humane approaches.
In conclusion, Oliver underscored the positive contributions of immigrants to society and cautioned against demonizing them. He called for rejecting leaders who promote their suffering and discrimination, urging voters to consider the impact of their choices on immigrant communities. Recognizing the resilience and value immigrants bring to the country, Oliver urged empathy and informed decision-making to uphold principles of humanity and justice.