Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump is not backing down from his immigration reform plan, including the proposal to deport more than 11.3 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S.

While making the Sunday morning talk-show rounds, Trump was confronted about the estimated cost to remove all undocumented immigrants from the country. As Latin Post reported, American Action Forum (AAF), a center-right policy institute organization, estimated the mass deportation plan would cost between $419.6 billion and $619.4 billion in a span of 20 years.

Trump dismissed the projected costs. According to the real estate businessman, it cost $130 billion a year to keep current undocumented immigrants, adding "that's peanuts compared to the real cost."

Trump also questioned the number of undocumented immigrants living in the country, stating it could be 30 million immigrants. According to him, the deported undocumented immigrants can return to the U.S. through the legal process. He said he would have an expedited process for some deportees to return to the U.S.

Philip Wolgin, associate director for immigration policy for the Center for American Progress (CAP) Action Fund, told Latin Post that a mass deportation plan would cost approximately $10,070 per person, which totals to $114 billion for the 11.3 million. Wolgin said Trump's plan is "absolutely not realistic."

In addition to the mass deportation, Trump's immigration reform plan calls for a wall across the southern U.S., which he insisted Mexico will cover the costs. While reinforcing current immigration laws, Trump wants an immigration plan that would improve employment rates and wages. Within the job sector, Trump proposed a nationwide e-verify system.

Another controversial plan is the end of birthright citizenship, a provision from the 14th Amendment that grants U.S. citizenship to U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants. According to Trump, the birthright citizenship provision "remains the biggest magnet for illegal immigration."

Democrats have hit back at Trump and fellow Republican presidential candidates in support of ending the birthright citizenship provision, including Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

"I find it highly ironic that Republicans think the Second Amendment is ironclad but for some reason that 14th Amendment is open to interpretation," said Democratic Rep. Linda Sanchez of California, the chairperson for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus during a press call on last Thursday.

"For me, this is personal. I view these attacks and it's personal to me," added Sanchez. "Immigrants come to this country to contribute. They come for opportunity, they give back so much to this country, they make it vibrant [and] they make it economically a powerhouse in the world."

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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