Trump looking to reinstate Bush-era deportation policies

The incoming Trump administration plans to re-establish policies that were rescinded under President Obama in order to find and deport criminal illegal aliens, according to a current official with knowledge of early discussions between the Trump transition team and Obama's Department of Homeland Security.

A senior DHS official with first-hand knowledge of those meetings said the transition team has given every impression that President-elect Trump will be "sticking to the script," referring to the hardline immigration views he preached while on the campaign trail and in his "thank you" tours following his win.

The administration is currently "dusting off things that have worked in the past under different administrations" and will then determine how to appropriate discretionary money for these operations, the official said.

Among the programs DHS is considering bringing back are Secure Communities, biometric sharing, and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS). In addition, the DHS official said any process that is not in alignment with Trump's message will also be under review, including the current refugee and asylum processes.

U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) could see some of the biggest policy changes. ICE focuses on interior enforcement of immigration laws and will be at the center of Trump's operation to deport criminals around the country.