GOP Lawmaker Says White House Spokeswoman Overreached on Deportation Policy

Representative Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican, said August 22 that the Trump administration has overreached on deportations, citing an Omaha woman with no criminal record who is scheduled to leave the country.

The woman, identified as Mariana, is an honors graduate of the University of Nebraska Omaha and holds a private pilot's license. She has strong community ties.

Mariana is scheduled for removal on September 18, 2026. Bacon said the case prompted him to question whether the administration is applying its enforcement policy too broadly.

White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis rejected Bacon’s criticism. The administration said it is carrying out laws enacted by Congress rather than choosing which laws to enforce.

“We are enforcing the laws passed by Congress. The Trump administration does not pick and choose which laws to enforce.”

Bis also promoted the “CBP Home” app, which the White House says allows people to arrange voluntary departure in exchange for a $2,600 check.

Bacon said removing people such as Mariana “makes zero sense” and lacks “common sense and humanity.” His criticism centers on detainees held for immigration violations who have no criminal records.

Internal data and news reports indicate that the share of detainees held solely on immigration violations has risen since April 2026. The proportion of detainees with criminal convictions has fallen during the same period.

The administration points to gang removals and rising enforcement totals

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has defended the department’s approach by emphasizing gang removals and public safety.

In an August 21, 2026, department release titled “DEPORTED: DHS Deports Illegal Alien Gang Members,” Mullin said Immigration and Customs Enforcement had removed more gang members the previous week.

“Last week, ICE deported more vicious illegal alien gang members from our country. America is no longer a safe haven for illegal aliens. If you are here illegally, we will find you, arrest you, and deport you.”

The department has also cited removal figures that include people who leave without a formal deportation order. Then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reported on February 24 that the administration recorded 2.2 million self-deportations and more than 713,000 formal deportations during its first 13 months.

The White House’s defense therefore covers both direct enforcement and departures described by the administration as voluntary. Bacon’s objection focuses on cases involving people without criminal histories.

Temporary protections and political messaging have shifted alongside enforcement

About 1 million migrants who previously held Temporary Protected Status have lost protection from deportation after court rulings and administrative actions ended programs covering countries including Haiti, Afghanistan, and Nicaragua.

The changes expanded the number of people who could face removal after previously holding a form of temporary protection. They also placed new pressure on congressional Republicans to define the administration’s policy.

In March 2026, White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair privately urged House Republicans to stop using the phrase “mass deportations.” He encouraged them to emphasize “removing violent criminals” instead.

The shift followed polling in which 65% of U.S. adults said ICE had “gone too far.” Blair’s guidance reflected a political concern about how the enforcement campaign was being described, even as the administration continued defending its broader authority.

The campaign carries costs for taxpayers and leaves children without lawyers

The Economic Policy Institute estimates that the mass-deportation campaign costs taxpayers about $2,358 per person.

The enforcement effort also intersects with the treatment of unaccompanied children. The administration has awarded more than $178 million in contracts to organizations such as “Our Rescue” to handle those children.

Traditional legal-aid networks serving migrant children have seen their funding expire. Thousands of minors have consequently been left without representation in immigration court.

Those legal cases can involve separate questions about custody, protection claims, and removal. The funding changes affect children even when their immigration proceedings remain unresolved.

Bacon’s criticism returns the national dispute to one individual case. Mariana has no criminal record, graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska Omaha, and holds a private pilot's license.

Her removal date is September 18, 2026. Bacon said applying the policy to people in circumstances like hers lacks “common sense and humanity.”

This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific case.