President Trump’s determination to round up and deport millions of undocumented residents is wrong on many levels, but one in particular has received little attention: the cost. During fiscal 2016, the U.S. spent $3.2 billion to identify, arrest, detain and remove undocumented immigrants, according to the Department of Homeland Security, costing taxpayers an average of $10,854 per deportee.
That’s money that would have been much better spent by law enforcement agencies across the country to arrest, try and jail murderers, thieves, rapists, sex traffickers, child molesters and others whose crimes do far greater harm than illegal entry into the U.S. It’s no mystery that Trump is taking these actions for purely political reasons, prioritizing his chances of re-election ahead of the safety of the American people. If for no other reason, these roundups should end.
Allan Mann, Alameda
Note from KBJ: Why would deportation increase President Trump’s “chances of re-election” if it were not approved by the majority of the people? Do you think before you write, Allan?
