Senator-elect Jim Banks of Indiana recently outlined a plan to address immigration, focusing on deporting illegal immigrants. Endorsed by President-elect Trump, the plan marks a return to stricter policies like “Remain in Mexico.”
Jim Banks, set to replace Mike Braun in the Senate, discussed the possibility of deporting 15 million illegal immigrants, prioritizing those with violent criminal records. He also called for penalties on businesses hiring undocumented workers.
Banks expressed confidence that the Republican majority in Congress would fund such initiatives. Legislative backing was seen as crucial for the mass deportation plan’s success.
“One of the top issues in your campaign was immigration and the border. What is the first thing that you want the president-elect to do?” CNN’s Dana Bash asked.
Banks noted that recent elections gave Republicans a mandate to pursue immigration reform. Such plans will aim to address legal and economic aspects, encouraging voluntary departure of undocumented individuals.
“What’s different about this time from last time is he’s gonna have backup in the Congress to support him to do it. And we will give him the funding that it takes to fully build the wall, to support our border patrol agents, to do their important work. But it’s gonna start with those executive orders on day one,” Banks said.
“Joe Biden overturned all of those Trump policies on his first day in office, and Donald Trump’s going to immediately reverse that and go back to what we know will work,” Banks added.
Banks’s proposed reshaping U.S. immigration policy with a focus on enforcement and deterrence. He emphasized Congressional support as vital for securing the border and implementing these strategies.
“First of all, just to better understand what the actual policy and how it’s going to be executed will be, do you see all undocumented immigrants as sort of, should they all be kicked out of the country?” Bash asked.
“Well, some conservative estimates say that there are at least 15 million illegals who have come into the country on Joe Biden’s watch. It’s my hope that we deport every single one of them that we can. And it starts with deporting violent criminals who are in the United States, who came here illegally, who have committed violent crimes. I think once you do that, President Trump is committed to making that his first and top priority when it comes to mass deportation,” Banks said.
“And then also on top of that, increase the penalties on businesses who hire illegals in our country and take away the incentive for them to be here and for them to come here. And I think many of them will leave on their own. But this – the mass deportation plan needs to be an immediate focus of the House and the Senate,” he added.
“I believe when the dust settles, we’re going to have an even bigger majority in the House, still a slim majority, but a big – a bigger majority by a couple of seats in the House, and we’ll have the ability to work together in both chambers to fund the mass deportation effort and give the president the backup that he needs to make it happen,” Banks said.
“The American people spoke loud and clear on Tuesday. They gave this president and Republicans a mandate to do everything that we can. The goal should be to deport every illegal in this country that we can find,” Banks said.
