Donald Trump’s proposed mass deportation plan could face serious financial obstacles without backing from Congress.
Experts warn that without swift legislative action, the policy may be impossible to implement. Andrew Arthur, an immigration analyst at the Center for Immigration Studies, said the outcome now hinges on the passage of a key bill.
“The faster Congress moves to get this bill to the president’s desk, the sooner ICE and Border Patrol will be ready to carry out their missions,” he told radio station KTRH.
Nicknamed the “Big, beautiful bill” by Trump, the legislation includes several provisions, with immigration policy at its core. However, disputes remain over some of the bill’s secondary components.
Funding for ICE, however, appears to have bipartisan support, according to Arthur. “I believe Congress is increasingly aware of the urgency of immigration-related funding, and it will eventually unlock the necessary resources,” he said.
Currently, ICE operates with about 50,000 detention beds—far below what the White House considers necessary to execute its immigration strategy.
Arthur estimates the agency would need “100,000 or more” to follow the directives of President Trump and border policy coordinator Tom Homan.
Should Congress fail to pass the full package, a fallback plan is reportedly under discussion: the White House could push for a standalone bill focused solely on immigration funding, Arthur added in his remarks on KTRH.
Still, the administration hopes lawmakers will approve the broader legislation before July 4th—a date of major symbolic significance in the U.S.
In the meantime, confusion reigns within the White House over the direction of the administration’s immigration agenda.
In less than a week, the federal government has shifted course multiple times on ICE workplace enforcement operations in sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, and food service.
On his Truth Social platform, President Trump recently announced a pause on immigration raids in those industries. But just days later, the Department of Homeland Security issued a new directive allowing federal agents to resume operations as they see fit, nationwide.
