Trump’s Mass Deportation Plan: Can He Really Do It?
A Discussion with Kitty Calavita
November 28, 2024
29 min
155
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1,328 of 1,730
Episode 155 · November 28, 2024
Trump’s Mass Deportation Plan: Can He Really Do It?
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American Politics Episodes Around November 28, 2024
Episode 1,328 of 1,730 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
Trump’s Mass Deportation Plan: Can He Really Do It?
Summary
Kitty Calavita, Chancellor’s Professor Emerita of Criminology, Law and Society at the University of California, Irvine, discuss the historical context and implications of Operation Wetback, a 1954 U.S. mass deportation of Mexican immigrants, and its relevance to President-elect Donald Trump's proposed mass deportation plans. Calavita explains that Operation Wetback aimed to address the economic utility of undocumented workers and political backlash against them, particularly during a recession and Cold War rhetoric. She highlights the logistical challenges of such operations, including the integration of immigrants into various industries and the legal protections against random stops. Calavita suggests that while high-profile roundups may occur, a massive deportation campaign is unlikely due to economic and logistical obstacles.
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