Private military contractors, including a coalition led by former Blackwater founder Erik Prince, have pitched a $25 billion plan to help President Trump deport 12 million illegal immigrants in just two years.
At a Glance
- A coalition of security firms led by Erik Prince proposed providing aircraft and a “small army” of private citizens to assist in deporting illegal migrants
- The plan aims to deport 12 million people within two years, requiring nearly 500,000 deportations per month
- Proposed contracts could be worth up to $25 billion and include “processing camps” on U.S. Army facilities
- The proposal calls for deputizing 10,000 private citizens with federal law enforcement authority
- Trump has indicated that ICE agents and the U.S. military will implement his deportation policy, but may consider private contractors for efficiency
Private Contractors Eye Multi-Billion Dollar Deportation Contracts
As the Trump administration gears up for a massive immigration enforcement push, private military contractors are lining up for what could be the largest deportation operation in American history. A coalition of security firms led by Erik Prince, founder of the controversial private military company formerly known as Blackwater, has submitted an unsolicited proposal to assist in removing millions of illegal immigrants from U.S. soil. The ambitious plan calls for providing aircraft, manpower, and logistics support to dramatically accelerate deportations beyond what government agencies could accomplish alone.
The scale of the proposed operation is staggering, with contractors offering to help deport 12 million people in just two years – a pace that would require processing nearly 500,000 individuals monthly. This represents a 600% increase over current deportation activities. The unprecedented scope helps explain the equally extraordinary price tag, with contracts potentially worth up to $25 billion. For perspective, the entire annual budget for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in fiscal year 2023 was approximately $8.4 billion.
The Trump administration has received multiple unsolicited proposals from military contractors eager to participate in immigration enforcement. While the White House hasn’t officially responded to these specific proposals, Trump has previously indicated that ICE agents and the U.S. military will lead implementation of his deportation policy. However, the administration appears open to considering private companies to expedite the process, particularly given the ambitious timeline for removals.
The Trump administration has begun deporting immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally on military aircraft, a White House spokesperson announced Friday, Jan. 24. See what mass deportations would mean for the U.S. economy. https://t.co/dZrMUJ3EtA
— CGTN America (@cgtnamerica) January 27, 2025
Administration Support for Privatizing Deportations
Some key Trump allies have publicly endorsed the concept of hiring private contractors to accelerate deportations. Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist and influential voice in Trump’s circle, has expressed support for outsourcing aspects of the deportation process to private companies. His comments suggest impatience with government bureaucracy and a desire to quickly implement the administration’s immigration policies regardless of institutional limitations.
“People want this stood up quickly, and understand the government is always very slow to do things. It’s smart to start bidding out right now and get a feel for what else outside companies, contractors can do.” – Steve Bannon
The Trump administration faces significant logistical challenges in scaling up deportations. During Trump’s first month in office during his previous term, 37,660 people were deported – a figure that fell below the monthly average during Biden’s last year. To achieve the stated goal of deporting 12 million people in two years would require more than a tenfold increase in capacity. This has created an opening for military contractors to position themselves as the solution to what would otherwise be an impossible government undertaking.
Growing Concerns Over Civil Rights and Oversight
Civil rights groups have expressed alarm over the potential involvement of military contractors in deportation operations. Critics point to the controversial track record of companies like those formerly led by Erik Prince, citing incidents of alleged human rights abuses during overseas operations. The prospect of utilizing private military contractors and deputized civilians for domestic immigration enforcement raises serious questions about accountability, oversight, and constitutional protections for those targeted for removal.
The administration already faces legal challenges and scrutiny over its approach to detention facilities, including previous controversial proposals to use locations like Guantanamo Bay. Despite campaign rhetoric focusing on violent criminals, data from Trump’s previous term showed many deportees lacked criminal convictions, creating tension between policy goals and implementation reality. As private contractors position themselves for lucrative deportation contracts, the constitutional and ethical questions surrounding this unprecedented privatization of immigration enforcement remain largely unanswered.
