Sitting down with NBC’s Kristen Welker for a Meet The Press interview that aired Sunday (Dec. 8), President-elect Donald Trump outlined dramatic changes to immigration that would affect millions of American families when he returns to office. His proposals would represent one of the most significant shifts in U.S. immigration policy in decades, impacting both undocumented immigrants and American citizens alike.

Families Forced to Choose

Trump unveiled a stark choice for mixed-status families—those where some in the family are U.S. citizens while others are undocumented: either separate or leave the country together. "I don't want to break up families," Trump stated, "So the only way you don't break up the family is you keep them together and send them all back." This would impact approximately 4 million families where children are American citizens but one or both parents lack legal status, potentially forcing U.S. citizens to choose between leaving their country or separating from their parents.

Ending Birthright Citizenship

Trump pledged to end birthright citizenship—the constitutional right that automatically grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil—on "day one" through executive action. This right, guaranteed by the 14th Amendment since 1868, has been a cornerstone of American immigration law. When pressed about the multitude of hurdles that he’d have to clear to alter a constitutional right, Trump acknowledged he’ll "maybe have to go back to the people," but remained committed to ending what he called an "absurd" system.

Mass Deportation Plans

The former president confirmed plans for widespread deportations beyond just those with criminal records. "When somebody comes here illegally, they're going out," Trump declared, though he admitted "it's a very tough thing to do." Estimates suggest deporting an estimated 11 million undocumented individuals would require massive expansion of detention facilities, immigration courts, and enforcement personnel, with experts listing costs upwards of $88 billion annually.

Surprising Support for Dreamers

In an unexpected turn, Trump expressed support for DACA recipients (known as "Dreamers"—young people who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children and have grown up as Americans). "We're going to do something about the Dreamers," he said, indicating some willingness to work with Democrats on legislation to protect them. This marks a shift from his previous attempts to end the DACA program during his first term, which protected about 800,000 young immigrants from deportation.

Misconceptions About Birthright Citizenship

Trump inaccurately claimed that the U.S. is the only country offering birthright citizenship. In reality, over 30 nations, including Canada and Brazil, have similar policies.

For many young Americans who have never known another home, or families with both citizen and undocumented members, these policies could force impossible choices between family unity and remaining in their country. It’s important to remember, however, that the feasibility and legality of many of these proposals remain in question, as they would likely face significant legal challenges and require massive government resources to implement.

President-elect Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated on Monday, Jan. 20.