A key Trump ally on immigration explains how mass deportations could work

TOPEKA, Kan. — A Kansas official who is an informal adviser to President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team on immigration issues doesn’t expect mass deportations to prompt arrests of migrants at sensitive locations such as schools and churches. KOBACH: “Once there’s a massive enforcement effort going on, then a lot of people start leaving on their own.” “You can put a multiplier on that number, and it’ll be a much greater number. KOBACH: “Whatever the Trump administration does will certainly be litigated because it’s one of those hot-button issues.” “I believe that the Trump administration has every intention of addressing this issue, in his second term.” How would state and local officials help? Trump could seek new contracts with counties to keep immigrants in their jails, and Kobach said he’s previously worked as a lawyer for some Texas counties with bigger jails than they need for local offenders. KOBACH: “The Trump administration, the people in the immigration sphere, are well aware of this problem, and I’ve talked to them.” “A few of those counties have a really big facility, jail, and the reason it’s so big is they want to contract with other counties and with the federal government.”