ACLU Files Lawsuit Against ICE: What It Means for California and Trump Confirms Mass Deportation Plan

In partnership with

Breaking News: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California has filed a lawsuit against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to obtain records detailing how ICE Air Operations—the agency's network of for-profit, commercial, and privately chartered deportation flights—might be expanded to implement a mass deportation and detention program.

This came just hours after President-elect Donald Trump announced on Truth Social his plan to declare a national emergency and deploy military resources to execute his mass deportation agenda when he takes office in January. The potential impact on California, home to the largest population of undocumented immigrants in the U.S., cannot be overstated.

Campaign Promises Come to Life

Throughout his campaign, Trump promised to round up and deport illegal immigrants who violated the law. His latest statement confirms that he plans to follow through on this controversial pledge.

Legal Justification

What could this Trump plan look like in practice? While specific details remain unclear, experts point to potential legal pathways Trump might use:

📌Trump could lean on the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which grants the president power to arrest, detain, or deport individuals from countries considered enemies during wartime.

📌This law, part of the Alien and Sedition Acts, was created during tensions with France and allows for swift actions without standard legal procedures.

📌Previously, during his first term, Trump used the National Emergencies Act to divert military funds for border wall construction, signaling his willingness to invoke extraordinary measures.

Legal and Logistical Concerns

• The Alien Enemies Act could allow Trump to bypass normal legal processes for deportations.

• He might also expand the military's role in domestic law enforcement to facilitate arrests and removals.

The Cost of Deportation

According to the American Immigration Council, a full-scale deportation would cost approximately $315 billion and take over a decade to complete.

What Could Mass Deportation Look Like?

Trump "border czar" pick Tom Homan recently spoke to 60 Minutes about the potential Trump Administration plans:

California’s Reality: The Impact of Mass Deportations

California, home to the largest population of illegal immigrants in the U.S., would be significantly affected by a Trump deportation plan. So, it’s no surprise Governor Newsom is mounting what he calls a “Trump-proof” meeting on December 2 during the state’s special session.

• According to the Pew Research Center, an estimated 1.85 million illegal immigrants reside in California (there are an estimated 11 million nationwide).

• Between 2017 and 2021, California saw the most significant drop in its undocumented population, with a decrease of 150,000 individuals.

Illegal Immigrant Households in the US

According to Pew, there are 6.3 million households in the U.S. that include illegal immigrants, which adds up to over 22 million people.

• In most of these households—about 86%—either the head of the house or their spouse is undocumented.

• Interestingly, nearly 70% of these households are "mixed status," meaning they include a mix of U.S. citizens or legal residents living with undocumented family members.

Labor and Education Impact in California

• The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) estimated in 2017 that nearly 1 in 10 workers in California was undocumented.

• Additionally, about 12.3% of K–12 students in the state had at least one undocumented parent.

California Latinos Supporting Trump

Despite the threat of family separations, some undocumented immigrants in California believe a Trump presidency could benefit them. This belief highlights the complexity of voter sentiment, as millions of Latinos in California supported Trump (most of California’s 12 Latino-majority counties swung further toward Trump), driven by hopes that he could boost the economy and enhance community safety.

This map (below) shows how counties across the U.S. and in California shifted to Republican.

Newsom Now Claims ‘Trump Ignored Him’

Governor Newsom now says he reached out to President Trump after the November 5 election and Trump ignored him. Newsom said that is why he called the Special Session for December 2nd. Listen to this new report from ABC News:

Netter News Sponsor

Why This Gold Stock is Our Top Trade of the Month

Tiny Float: Just 19 million shares outstanding with strong insider ownership.
Stock Performance: Up 200% in recent years and primed for the next breakout.
Ideal Timing: Upcoming catalysts + gold pullback = prime opportunity.

Discover This Hidden Stock Pick

This is a sponsored advertisement on behalf of Four Nines Gold. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing involves risk. View the full disclaimer here: https://shorturl.at/73AF8

Migrants Interception off Newport Beach

Highlighting the ongoing issue of illegal immigrants entering Southern California, U.S. Coast Guard officials reported that they intercepted a boat carrying 21 migrants off the coast of Newport Beach. FOX Los Angeles reports: