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The incoming Trump administration has announced plans to bring back family detention centers as part of its immigration enforcement strategy. Tom Homan, tapped to serve as the administration’s “border czar,” confirmed the controversial policy in a recent interview, signaling a sharp departure from measures introduced under President Biden.
Homan, who was a key architect of the family separation policy during Trump’s first term, revealed that undocumented parents could be deported with or without their US-born children. Parents would face the difficult choice of leaving as a family or remaining in the country, separated from their children.
“We’re going to need to construct family facilities,” Homan told The Washington Post. He said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would use soft-sided tent structures, similar to those deployed during immigration surges at the southern border. Homan stressed that the number of beds required would depend on data, suggesting an expansive approach.
Critics have condemned the revival of family detentions, which were ended by the Biden administration in 2021 following backlash from immigration advocates and pediatric experts. Opponents argue that such facilities harm children, citing studies that highlight the psychological toll of detention.
A report from Harvard University detailed the long-term effects of detention on minors, noting that children in such environments often endure conditions detrimental to their mental health. “These policies lack fundamental protections owed to children, regardless of their immigration status,” said Vasileia Digidiki, director of the Harvard FXB Summer Program on Migration and Refugee Studies.
The new policy would also target parents of children born in the U.S., who are automatically granted citizenship under the Constitution’s 14th Amendment. While the government cannot legally deport U.S. citizens, parents would be subject to deportation, leaving them to decide whether to take their children with them or leave them behind.
The announcement comes amid broader plans to ramp up immigration enforcement. The administration intends to reinstate worksite raids, reintroduce the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and expand ICE’s deportation capacity. Critics argue that these measures disregard human rights and could lead to widespread family separations.
Homan defended the policies, asserting that they would be implemented humanely. “We need to show the American people we can do this and not be inhumane about it,” he said. “We can’t lose the faith of the American people.”
However, immigration advocates question whether these measures can be carried out without significant harm. They point to the logistical challenges and ethical implications of mass detentions and deportations.
The reintroduction of family detention marks a contentious start to Trump’s second term, reigniting debates over the balance between immigration enforcement and human rights. As plans unfold, the social and humanitarian impact of these policies will remain under intense scrutiny.
