We’ve had almost two weeks to get used to the idea. Take a deep breath. It is only four years.

Which admittedly may seem like an eternity if Donald Trump is unrestrained and follows through on all of his promises. But what will a Trump presidency look like the second time around?

Trump had to beat Kamala Harris in order to stay out of jail. That must have been a huge motivating factor for him and his team. You can pretty much expect all the federal charges he is facing to go away now. Maybe the state charges too. I don’t see any judge sending a sitting president to jail, no matter how serious the charges. Or even allowing a trial to proceed.

One thing that I do expect is that one of Trump’s first acts as president wilk be to pardon anyone connected, convicted or charged with crimes arising from the January 6, 2021 insurrection attempt. That is a bad move for so many reasons, but it will play well with his most ardent loyalists.

It brings the administration of justice into disrepute. It suggests that the end justifies the means, and that the law doesn’t apply equally to everyone. It legitimizes sedition and murder – and that is just what comes to mind first. Trump will do it just to remind the elite who is in charge.

More problematic, and probably more popular, is Trump’s plan to deport 11 million people he says are in the US illegally. I can see a lot of people getting behind this idea, even those who voted against him. The humanitarian aspects are frightening, but such an act would tap into the popular mood.

Citizenship and residency are a privilege. Most people don’t think they should be open to those who have broken the law.

Having open borders is an idealistic concept that has drawbacks in reality. It would be nice if everyone could move here and enjoy our high standard of living. But that standard has taken time to be established. A sudden population influx, mostly unskilled labor who may not speak the language, is going to cause problems and strain the social safety net. A complete rundown of the issues involved would fill a book, maybe more than one, that I don’t feel I am supposed to write.

Let’s just say I sympathize with those who want to deport illegal migrants. Yet at the same time I also have sympathy for those whose only crime is seeking a better life for themselves and their children. Why should they be penalized for their dreams?

The simple statement is that those here illegally should be sent back home. The reality is more complicated.

What if they have been here for years and have jobs and roots in the community? What if they have children who are citizens? What about refugees?

True, many if those with jobs are being exploited by employers taking advantage of their status. But that situation is still better than things were in their home country. Should the moral question be considered? What obligations do we have to humanity? Do those trump the laws of citizenship.

Then there are the logistical issues. How do you deport 11 million people? Do you have internment camps where you hold them prior to kicking them out of the country? How much is that going to cost? How can you ensure that law-abiding immigrants and citizens don’t get caught up in the net. Will immigration squads be roaming communities looking for illegals? The image is disturbing.

There are other issues. How safe will the camps be, for residents and for those living nearby? How legal is deportation without trial? And there is no way you can have deportation hearings for 11 million people; the delays would last decades.

The whole idea is disturbing, especially for those with long memories. Minorities have been herded into camps in the past. History has shown that to be wrong. Why would doing it now be different?

Will Trump follow through? Maybe not as drastically as his statements would indicate.

Sealing the border would seem to be the first priority. First stem the flow of illegal migrants. Then figure out what to do with those who remain who aren’t in the country legally. Perhaps automatically deport those with criminal records. Maybe allow those with jobs to say. Or those with close relatives who are citizens.

I seem to recall something similar being tried before during the Obama administration. Apparently it didn’t solve the problem.

So is Trump going to deport 11 million people? I’m sure he would like to, but somehow I don’t think he will be successful.