Administration plans mass deportation with private ‘army’ and processing camps

A group of military contractors, including former Blackwater CEO Erik Prince, has proposed a $25 billion mass deportation plan to the Trump administration, aiming to expel 12 million undocumented immigrants before the 2026 midterms, Politico reports. The proposal suggests using “processing camps” on military bases, a fleet of 100 planes, and deputized private citizens empowered to make arrests.

The 26-page document, circulated among Trump allies since December, argues Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lacks the resources for such an operation and recommends outsourcing enforcement to private entities. The plan suggests appointing 10,000 “border deputies” with law enforcement authority, conducting mass deportation hearings, and offering financial incentives to local law enforcement for detaining undocumented individuals.

Legal experts have raised concerns about the feasibility and constitutionality of the plan. Former ICE Chief of Staff Jason P. Houser estimated actual costs could reach $80 billion and warned of logistical and diplomatic obstacles. Critics, including former government officials, argue that the proposal undermines due process and would likely face immediate legal challenges.

While the Trump administration has not formally responded, White House spokesman Kush Desai stated the government is committed to mass deportations but emphasized that execution depends on federal agencies. Prince and his associates, who have deep ties to Trump, previously proposed private military operations in Afghanistan and Ukraine, as well as privately funding Trump’s border wall.

The proposal’s emergence highlights ongoing efforts by Trump-aligned contractors to profit from immigration enforcement, potentially bypassing competitive bidding processes by invoking national emergency powers.