President-elect, Donald Trump, confirmed his plans to declare a national emergency over border security and deploy the U.S. military for a mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.
This announcement follows his longstanding pledge during the election campaign to remove millions of migrants and strengthen border security, especially in the wake of record illegal crossings under President Joe Biden’s administration.
Trump reiterated his intentions through a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, amplifying a statement by a conservative activist that claimed he was “prepared to declare a national emergency” and use military assets to counter what the activist described as an “invasion” by migrants.
Trump replied to the post, commenting, “True!”
In his bid to return to the White House, Trump defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election, and has already begun naming figures known for their tough stance on immigration, including former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acting chief Tom Homan, whom he has appointed as his “border czar.”
Homan, who spoke at the Republican National Convention in July, warned migrants, saying, “You better start packing now,” referring to those released into the U.S. under Biden’s administration.
It’s estimated that approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants are currently living in the United States, and Trump’s deportation plan is expected to directly affect around 20 million families.
During his campaign, Trump framed the issue of illegal immigration as a national crisis, frequently using harsh rhetoric that painted migrants as a threat to American safety and values.
Trump’s proposals have sparked controversy, with critics pointing to his use of inflammatory language about immigrants, such as claims they would “poison the blood” of the nation.
While Trump has yet to detail the specifics of his mass deportation plan, he has expressed his intention to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which would allow for faster deportations.
However, critics have raised concerns about the law’s antiquated nature, noting its past use during World War II to intern Japanese-Americans without due process.
Border encounters have surged, with U.S. border patrol encounters peaking at a record 250,000 in December 2023, and now returning to levels seen in 2020, Trump’s last year in office.
AFP
