We have millions of illegal immigrants living among us; some good, some bad. The Trump administration launched “Plan A” to deport the “worst of the worst.” It is a disaster, inciting violence across the country and getting worse every day. There does not appear to be a “Plan B” in place. The intent of this publication is to define the violence piece in Part One and to define a way ahead in Part Two which is Plan B.
PART ONE, VIOLENCE IN AMERICA AND ANTI-ICE DEMOCRATS
FACTS BEARING ON THE PROBLEM:
The Democrat Left does not criticize President Biden and VP Harris who, by design and policy, committed the most egregious national security offense in our nation’s history by opening the borders in order to expand a future Liberal voting base.
The Biden/Harris open border allowed tons of fatal drugs to flow into the U.S. from the Mexican Cartels which resulted in about 400,000 drug overdose deaths by mostly young Americans. Do the math; 400,000 divided by 1,461 days in office equals an average 2,738 DEATHS PER DAY while the Biden administration insisted, “the border is secure.”
During the Biden administration there were well over 13 million “encounters” and “released migrants”. Additionally, there was a group referred to as the “gotaways.” Many of them were seen on cameras and other sensors but not engaged by Border Control agents. The gotaways did not want to be engaged and processed because they are trans-national gang members, criminals, drug dealers, cartel operators, human traffickers, terrorists and other undesirables.
In the first three Biden/Harris years there were 1,592,132 gotaways “seen” on sensors but not apprehended; plus, an additional 190,000 during the first half of 2024. The head of the Border Patrol, Paul Ortiz testified that the number of gotaways could be underreported by at least 20 percent. The real number of trans-national gang members, criminals, drug dealers, cartel operators, human traffickers, terrorists and other undesirables could be closer to 2.5 million walking our streets today. But then consider the perhaps hundreds of thousands or millions of criminals and terrorists who were not detected at all.
The FBI estimates there are about 33,000 gangs in the U.S. with a total of about one million members. The Biden/Harris open border has paved the way for the growth of transnational gangs which are known to be particularly vicious; for example, Tren de Aragua from Venezuela and MS-13 from El Salvador. Additionally, volent Mexican cartels are also operating in all 50 states.
While the First Amendment guarantees “freedom of assembly”, many states have enacted laws focusing on gang affiliation to discourage the criminal behavior of gangs. At the federal level there is currently no gang-specific law, but it does prosecute the members of criminal gangs or groups under the powerful law known as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). We desperately need a more specific federal gang law.
ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is a U.S. federal agency whose mission is, “To protect America from national security and public safety threats by enforcing immigration and customs laws to include detaining unauthorized immigrants and removing them from our country.”
TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME PLUS
Anyone in America who has some misgivings about President Trump is often categorized as suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome. Sometimes that accusation is made only in jest. However, what we see happening across this country is something much more serious than Trump Derangement Syndrome; It’s BLIND HATRED. Democrats in general and Democrat leaders in particular who deeply hate who President Trump is, everything he says and everything he does to the extent that they are absolutely blind to EVERY positive thing that is happening. Their words and actions are unamerican, these people are not patriots and they are creating and encouraging a dangerous violent environment throughout America.
Trump’s success at border security, energy development, the economy, military recruitment, trade agreements, massive incoming foreign investment, and spectacular foreign policy deals and ceasefires are all categorized by the Blind Hatred Democrat leadership as racist, fascist, unconstitutional and illegal and must be stopped (implied, at any cost).
Los Angeles mayor, Bass calls ICE activities, “A reign of terror.”
California Governor, Newsome calls ICE activities, “chaotic, reckless and cruel.”
Illinois Governor, Pritzker calls ICE activities, “An unconstitutional invasion by the federal government.”
Chicago mayor, Johnson calls ICE activities, “Terror-style tactics.”
Minority leader of the Senate, Chuck Schumer, “Cruelty seems to be the point of these raids.”
Speaking of Democrat leaders’ rhetoric, this past week former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, perhaps the most prominent Democrat leader for the past two decades, publicly referred to President Trump as a “vile creature” and “the worst thing on the face of the Earth” and then she doubled down by saying, “I could have done much worse.” I’ll let your imagination suggest what she might have meant by that. Does she not understand that name-calling is the first step leading to violent actions?
Bottom line, Biden and Harris set in motion a border situation in which millions of criminals and terrorists entered into our society and are still here today. We desperately need for ICE to become operationally unincumbered by violent adversarial words and deeds.
When blind-hatred Democrat leaders provide daily outbursts of dangerous rhetoric, they are sending a clear message that violence against ICE federal agents (or even the president) is not only OK, but is actually encouraged.
Will the violence against ICE agents go away anytime soon? There is zero reason to believe it will. Will violence against ICE agents get worse? The Democrat leader anti-ICE rhetoric is relentless and growing to the extent that the lives of ICE agents are clearly threatened.
Here is a scenario that is being played out every day across the country. ICE agents provide up-coming operational intensions to a city’s law enforcement. That information leaks out or is intentionally broadcast by Democrat mayors. The criminal illegal aliens in that area are likely to depart until ICE agents are gone. It also provides the anti-ICE elements time to prepare for their demonstrations.
While agents are arresting a suspect, it is often being videoed up close by demonstrators and later viewed by millions on social media and national news media. Often the suspects resist and what we see is two agents attempting to restrain the suspect while a third agent attempts to get the suspect handcuffed. To some that video represents resisting arrest but to the demonstrators those federal agents’ identity is being broadcast on social media under a headline of “POLICE BRUTALITY.”
That is why DHS instituted the policy that ICE agents would henceforth wear face masks. The Democrats went crazy; “Undemocratic”, “Against the law” etc. etc
On 30 October 2025, the Department of Homeland Security released this statement,
Our ICE law enforcement is now facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them while they risk their lives every single day to remove the worst of the worst.” Face masks? Yes, for personal protection.
Between January 21 and November 21 of 2024 under the Biden administration there were 19 assaults against ICE agents. During the same time span in 2025 DHS says the number has exploded to 238; more than 1,200% increase.
Some will say the anti-ice demonstrators are just voicing policy objections, they will not succumb to violent actions. In 2024, 243 law enforcement officers were shot in America. That is a 25% increase over 2023. Take off your rose-colored glasses, America is now a violent place.
Another example of violence in America is Chicago. The question is not whether someone will be shot in Chicago over any weekend, but rather how many will be shot. This year, 2025:
Over Memorial Day weekend, 24 people were shot.
Over the Fourth of July weekend, 44 people were shot.
Over Labor Day weekend, 58 people were shot.
A more recent, nothing-special weekend, (Nov 21–24), 26 wounded, 3 killed.
This is the new normal and coincidentally, Illinois Governor Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Johnson are making national news every week criticizing President Trump for wanting to assist in crime control and allow ICE agents to deport “the worst of the worst” illegal alien criminals. Blind hatred joins stupidity.
CONCLUSIONS
The blind-hatred Democrat leaders cannot accept that we must do something about the 33,000 violent gangs in America and that federal agents must to allowed to do their jobs unmolested.
“To” vs “For” issues. During the Biden/Harris open borders era, it is now documented what they did TO America. Now the blind-hatred Democrats cannot see what the Trump administration is doing FOR America to regain our national security. A president’s first responsibility is the safety and security of all Americans; the greater good.
Democrat leaders have not learned over the past 18 months that a constant flow of dangerous rhetoric can lead to violent actions. Candidate Trump came within a fraction of an inch of being assassinated during his presidential campaign. Soon after, a second Trump assassination attempt was shut down at the last minute. Charlie Kirk, a national leader preaching to young Americans about God, Family and Country was recently senselessly assassinated.
BOTTOM LINE. There is every reason to believe that ICE federal agents will be the next victims by some deranged individual who is motivated to action by relentless hateful rhetoric. We should not wait for that to happen; President Trump needs to act NOW.
PART TWO, DOCUMENTATION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAN PROVIDE A SAFER OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR ICE AGENTS; PLAN B
PHASE ONE, THE DOCUMENTATION CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS, (to be set up by the first week in January 2026)
Within the next couple weeks, President Trump should provide an emergency presentation to the nation during the evening hours that is carried by all media. Using lots of irrefutable data, paint the picture of the current violent America, particularly, the potential for life-threatening actions against ICE federal agents. Declare that ICE apprehension/deportation will be temporarily suspended before an agent is killed by an assassin.
President Trump should also send to Congress a proposed federal law that specifically deals with apprehension and prosecution of gangs and gang members.
President Trump should cause the leaders of the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Agency to form a semi-secret (no media, no public relations activities) nation-wide task force to take down the 33,000 violent gangs and the Cartel operators who are using many of the gangs in all 50 states. There will be a special effort to compile massive Humint (human intelligence) on the who/what/when/where/why/how of gangs’ operations in order to take them down in their totality. Good job for Vice President Vance to provide White House emphasis. As pointed out earlier, President Trump needs to immediately send to Congress for action a new federal law dealing with the prosecution of gang members.
There is a way to bring more clarity to the entire deportation concept and perhaps take some operational pressure off of ICE. That is, segregate the illegal aliens into two distinct categories; those whose only crime is illegal entry and those who are also an on-going or potential threat to society.
Point out that we should recognize there are millions of illegals who have a job, are law-abiding, are valued employees or self-employed, are respected neighbors, have been here for years, perhaps pay taxes, are not being sustained by government programs and should be considered for future citizenship. Perhaps even the blind-hatred Democrat leaders can understand this. Citizenship for the illegals has always been their end state. The difference is that their solution has always been “amnesty for all.” “All” including the criminals and terrorists. If the Democrats take control of Congress in the 2026 mid-term elections, amnesty for all will be their first order of business if this Immigration Reform Law is not passed and executed in the next 60-90 days.
The best way to distinguish the two groups is to issue a form of documentation (called an Illegal Alien Card, IA Card for short) for the good folks and the lack thereof for all others.
The President will explain the contents of a 10-page Immigration Reform Plan law that he is sending to the Congress for passage. The law will define the steps to be takin over the next approximately 60-90 days. The language in the law must be very specific and not subject to interpretation or change by States or local authorities or rogue federal judges.
Additionally, in Phase One, each State should be directed to get a head start by setting up IA Card registration sites. A logical solution is to temporarily add new positions to every DMV office. Each state should already have some knowledge of about how many illegals reside in their state.
Furthermore, in Phase One, every law enforcement agency in the United States will forward information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation on every felony committed by an undocumented inhabitant (who, what, when and where). The FBI will establish and maintain a national database of these cases which allows for an immediate check against an application for an IA Card. This must be completed and operational by the first week in January.
Testimony by the Director of Research at the Center for Immigration Studies stated that, “an estimated 59% of households headed by illegal immigrants use one or more major welfare programs, compared to 39% of households headed by U.S.-born citizens.” Unless we can change the way we operate,Illegal Immigrants currently in the U.S. will cost tax payers an estimated $1 trillion dollars every 5-6 years.
Federal law, primarily the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, makes individuals without a “qualified” immigration status ineligible for most major federal benefit programs. This ineligibility applies to several of the country’s major social safety net programs. Individuals without lawful status are barred from receiving Social Security retirement and disability benefits, even if they have contributed to the system through payroll taxes. They are also excluded from Supplemental Security Income for the aged, blind, and disabled, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), non-emergency Medicaid, and subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Over the years there have been some reinterpretations of some of the language in the original law.
The Immigration Reform bill that President Trump will send to Congress will spell out in detail which welfare programs are not available to Illegal Immigrants.
As part of Phase One, Vice President Vance should pull together a data base of Illegal Immigrants currently receiving unauthorized welfare payments from any part of the federal government. If an applicant for an AI Card is on that list they will be denied a card.
PHASE TWO, JANUARY FEBRUARY 2026
Every undocumented inhabitant in the U.S. will have the opportunity to report to an IAC registration site in the state where they reside in accordance with a published alphabetical schedule (last name beginning with A, B, C, or D report before the third week in January.
The first thing the IA Card facility will do is check the FBI data base. If the applicant has a criminal record from his home country, a felony conviction in the U.S. or is a known gang member, they will NEVER be eligible for an IA Card. This is an example of the specificity of the language that must be in the Immigration Reform Law; one strike and out.
The IA Card facility will also check the Welfare data base. If the applicant is currently receiving welfare checks they will be denied an IA Card.
Prior to appearing at the IA Card registration site, each applicant must download a Federal Form, Statement of Employment. fill it out and have it signed by their employer or if self-employed signed by a local official. The form must contain a statement of strong penalties for any employer signing a false statement. Registration fee for the IA Card is $50 per year.
The sophistication of the card will be similar to that of the Real ID card currently issued to U.S. citizens with the addition of an illegal ID number, similar to a social security number. Every illegal ID number will be sent to the IRS which will maintain the nation-wide list for tax purposes.
PHASE THREE, MARCH, 2026
Phase 2 registration is one-and-done and will never be repeated. That is, every illegal immigrant in the U.S. on 1 March 2026 will be either a documented legal holder of an IA Card or they are deportable. Holding an IA Card is, in effect, a temporary pardon from the crime of being in the U.S. illegally.
On 1 March 2026, any employer who employs an undocumented worker (no IA Card) will be subject to a fine of $25,000 for each worker, first offense; $50,000 each worker, second offense. No exceptions, no excuses. No employer is going to risk their livelihood over the employment of an illegal alien. Laws change behavior and add accountability of employers into the immigration solution.
This simple act of requiring illegal aliens to carry an IA Card will have four positive and immediate results:
First, employers will protect themselves from potentially heavy fines by only hiring inhabitants who have a valid IA Card.
Second, undocumented inhabitants who choose not to apply for an IA Card or were denied an IA Card will not be able to find an employer who will put them on the payroll. They will therefore be unemployable, will be unable to get welfare checks and will be constantly liable for deportation if detained for any reason; many will likely voluntarily return to their country of citizenship.
Third, foreigners contemplating illegal entry into the United States in order to work will soon learn that no employer is going to hire them and illegal entry will be futile. This inevitable behavior change will, by default, reduce illegal immigration to a trickle.
ICE federal agents will begin operations under Plan B. Any illegal immigrant without a valid, up-to-date IA Card is immediately deployable.
PHASE 4, JANUARY FEBRUARY, 2027
This phase begins the annual reissue of IA Cards; $50 fee. The card color will change each calendar year. ONLY (again, specificity in the law) those inhabitants holding an IA Card can receive a renewal card. Additionally, they will be denied renewal if they have been unemployed and made less than $5000, if they are illegally receiving welfare or if they have been convicted of a felony. Once denied, they will be detained, deported and never receive another card. Any IA Card that is not renewed by the annual renewal date will automatically be moved to the government’s deportation list.
FUNDING IMMIGRATION REFORM
In order to fund the Immigration Reform Law, a provision in the law will require IA Card holders to pay 10% Federal income taxes on earned income. Employers must issue a 1099 using the individual’s IA Card number to identify them to the IRS. The IRS will establish a National Registry of Card numbers and the data base will list earned income and taxes paid for the previous year. During the IA Card renewal process, the registration center will immediately access the IRS data base to determine if the applicant has in fact been employed, made at least $5000 and paid taxes. No tax records, no renewal and the applicant will be detained and deported. The Federal Government will retain 2% of the tax revenue to fund four national data bases for The Immigration Reform Plan B. The remaining 8% will be returned to the States in proportion to the number of IA Card holders to fund their IA Card processing centers.
Any IA Card holder convicted of a felony will have their card pulled, be detained and deported. That person’s file and IA Card number will be annotated at the national registries to ensure that any future attempts to reapply will be denied.
An IA Card holder who loses his or her job may immediately place an employment application to a National IA Card holder registry website maintained by the Department of Labor. This database will describe the IA Card holder’s skills and be broken down by zip code. An employer seeking to hire, for example, a carpenter has two options. One is to make direct contact with an IA Card holder; second is to review the Department of Labor national data base of unemployed IA Card holders.
FOUR NATIONAL DATA BASES
One maintained by the FBI of all illegal aliens with a criminal record.
Two, the data base of active IA Card holders maintained by the IRS.
Three, the data base of those illegal immigrants who are drawing on the welfare systems.
Four, the jobs-availability register at the Department of Labor.
IA CARD HOLDER PRIVILEGES
One, they may apply for a state vehicle operator’s license and will be tested in English. A provision of the law will be that every state must prominently display the individual’s IA Card number on the State Driver’s License. Additionally, every applicant must show proof of auto insurance.
Two, a current IA Card will authorize the holder to legally cross U.S. borders.
Three, legal holders may apply for an IA Card Dependent Card (using the sponsor’s IA Card number with a suffix) for their spouse and children (no extended family members). If granted, the sponsor will be authorized to escort the dependents across the U.S. border.
Four, after legally holding an IA Card for five consecutive years, that person is eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship for themselves and their immediate family (spouse and children).
CONCLUSIONS
Remember, these people are here illegally. Therefore, they will NOT be eligible for social security, welfare payments of any kind, food assistance programs, Medicaid, or social services. This will save hundreds of billions of dollars per year in federal and state assistance payments.
Is Plan B doable? Yes, it’s simple and it’s funded by the illegal aliens.
Plan B will readily identify illegal inhabitants who are currently a drain on Federal and State support systems and provide for their deportation.
If employers want foreign workers, they must become involved and accountable. Their only requirements are to hire IA Card holders and to report employee earnings to the IRS.
Plan B will assist in silencing anti-ICE demonstrators and blind-hatred Democrat leaders who are currently interfering with and threatening ICE federal agents.
For this immigration reform to work two things have to happen. First, the Congress has to pass a pure, non-watered down, straight-talk law with specificity that is not subject to interpretation by bureaucrats at the Federal, State or Local levels. Secondly, the Departments in the Executive Branch will need to develop high-speed, simple, secure, data bases that are immediately accessible by State and Local officials. We cannot afford to create a bungling bureaucratic morass like the current Immigration and Naturalization Service.
BOTTOM LINE
Any attempt to deport all of the millions of illegal immigrants residing in the U.S. is neither essential nor desirable.
Immigration reform is not about Democrat’s desire for amnesty-for-all or Republican’s closing the borders. It is about accountability and changing behavior.
Yes, deportation of the “worst of the worst” is a valid and essential concept of operations, but also is setting up the “best of the best” for eventual citizenship.
This should become a very high priority for the Trump Administration. Continuation of Plan A is threatening the lives of many of the 6,000 ICE agents and their leaders currently involved in deportation operations.
Marvin L. Covault, Lt Gen US Army, retired