El Paso GOP leader claims law backs Trump's mass deportation plans

President-elect Donald Trump has promised his supporters that he will conduct mass deportations on day one of his presidency.

Local immigration defense attorney, Alexis Lucero, said that not every plan of Trump's will follow through but he will get one step closer to accomplishing his goals.

"The reality is that Trump now has the legislature and he also has the judiciary that he actually installed. So even though it's a tall order, it may be something that he would be closer to getting than his predecessors," stated Lucero.

Jorge Gonzalez, the chairman of the El Paso County GOP said deportations will happen now one way or another, especially after the win from the general election.

"Deportation will happen. And while Democrats try to fight it all the way, the law is on our side. We will make it happen so that they lose the battle as well again," said Gonzalez.

According to the American Immigration Council, if mass deportations of undocumented immigrants were to happen it would cost taxpayers roughly $88 billion annually.

"He would need more officers to actually physically detain people and either send them to a detention center or to present them to an immigration judge later down the road. All those things are costly. Hiring a lot of different officers costs money," stated Lucero.

However, Gonzalez said the cost of mass deportation would outweigh the alternative.

"I think the courts and the additional money spent on deporting people is insignificant compared to the amount of money spent on services provided to illegal aliens," stated Gonzalez.

Overall, Trump's promises to crack down on the border sparked varied opinions from El Pasoans.

"I think that deportations have to be done in a well thought out manner, and for those who have gone through the process to enter the country legally, there should be a priority on those people," said Chris Boley, an El Paso resident.

"I'm kind of torn in between whether to support that or not...We don't know if they're they can do harm or not, but most of them do come here for a better life and do a good job here," said Idali Godinez.

"I just think it's super wrong. And I think people immigrating to America, they're just trying to find a better life for their family, and I don't think we should take that away from them in any way," saidNicholas Nowell.

Donald Trump's presidential inauguration is expected to be on January 20.