The emergence of an unsolicited proposal highlights the significant challenges the administration faces in finding resources to fulfill Trump's ambitious deportation agenda. The administration's commitment to this campaign promise has opened opportunities for private contractors who anticipate increased government spending in this area.
The document reveals that deporting 12 million people in two years would require ejecting nearly 500,000 illegal aliens per month. This necessitates a 600% increase in deportation activity, which is beyond the government's current capacity. The proposal suggests that outside assistance is essential to meet this demand.
Top White House officials are engaging with military contractors as Republicans in Capitol Hill rush to secure more resources for the immigration crackdown. Although Immigration and Customs Enforcement increased arrests initially, the pace has slowed, and not all arrests lead to deportations. The pressure to increase deportation numbers has led to the reassignment of top immigration officials due to resource challenges, such as detention capacity and the need for additional personnel.
Steve Bannon, a close Trump ally, emphasized the need for swift action. "It's smart to start bidding out right now and get a feel for what else outside companies, contractors can do," Bannon stated. However, it remains unclear if President Trump has reviewed the plan, which has circulated among his allies since December.
A White House spokesperson, Kush Desai, stated that the administration "remains aligned on and committed to a whole-of-government approach to securing our borders, mass deporting criminal illegal migrants, and enforcing our immigration laws." Desai noted that while the White House receives numerous unsolicited proposals, the responsible agencies ultimately decide on contracts.
Mathews, one of the contractors, expressed that they have not been contacted by the government since submitting their White Paper and are unaware of any interest in their proposal. Other contractors and former immigration officials declined to comment.
The founders of 2USV, a special entity linked to the proposal, have a long history with the U.S. government. Blackwater, formed by Prince in 1996, provided training services to law enforcement and military personnel. It gained attention for its security services in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, Blackwater faced scrutiny after the Nisour Square Massacre in 2007, when contractors killed 17 Iraqi civilians, leading to manslaughter charges and convictions.
Trump's pardon of the convicted contractors in December 2020 highlighted the influence of Prince's family during his administration. Prince's sister, Betsy DeVos, served as Education Secretary, and Prince used his connections for business ventures. In 2018, he reportedly helped fund efforts to spy on Democratic organizations opposed to Trump and was involved in privately building a wall along the U.S. southern border.
The proposal outlines a plan to expand immigration enforcement capacity, including deploying a fleet of 100 aircraft to clear the illegal population within two years. However, the plan raises legal concerns, as it suggests mass deportation hearings and a screening team of 2,000 attorneys and paralegals, bypassing tested legal processes.
The proposal also recommends a "Skip Tracing Team" to locate deportees using existing records and a "bounty program" rewarding local law enforcement for detaining illegal aliens. This could face legal hurdles, as many local officers lack agreements to act as immigration officers.
Deputizing 10,000 private citizens, including military veterans and former law enforcement officials, is suggested, but experts warn of potential legal challenges. The proposal includes plans to detain and repatriate people, utilizing 49 planes and temporary camps at Army installations. However, scaling up the operation would require substantial resources and could cost up to $80 billion.
Countries may not accept repatriation flights at the proposed pace, and political risks remain significant. Jason P. Houser, former ICE chief of staff, emphasized the operational and moral challenges of forcibly removing 12 million people, describing it as a potential "moral and economic catastrophe."
If the Trump administration pursues the bid, 2USV would enter a competitive network of contractors used by ICE. Despite plans to bypass competitive bidding through a national emergency declaration, logistical and legal challenges remain formidable. The proposal echoes Trump's rhetoric, citing unsubstantiated claims about immigration's impact on crime and the economy.
