President-elect Donald Trump confirmed Monday that he plans to declare a national emergency over border security and use the U.S. military to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
Immigration was a top issue on the campaign trail, and Trump pledged to deport millions of people and stabilize the border with Mexico after record numbers of immigrants crossed illegally during President Joe Biden’s administration. is
On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump amplified a recent post by a conservative activist that said the president-elect was “ready to declare a national emergency and implement a mass deportation program.” Will use military assets to stop Biden’s attack.”
Along with the post, Trump commented, “True!”
Trump defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris on November 5 to seal a stunning return to the presidency.
He has been announcing a cabinet that includes immigration hardliners, calling former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement chief Tom Homan his “border czar.”
Homan appeared at the Republican National Convention in July, telling supporters: “I get the message to the millions of illegal immigrants that Joe Biden has unleashed into our country: You better start packing now.”
Officials estimate that about 11 million people live in the United States illegally. Trump’s deportation plan is expected to directly affect nearly 20 million families.
As the U.S. government has struggled for years to manage its southern border with Mexico, Trump has raised concerns by claiming there is an ongoing “invasion” of immigrants, who he says are Americans. They will rape and kill.
During his campaign, Trump repeatedly railed against undocumented immigrants, using inflammatory rhetoric about foreigners “poisoning the blood” of America and his audience about immigration statistics and policy. mislead.
Trump has not elaborated on his immigration crackdown but repeatedly vowed during his campaign to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to speed up deportations.
Critics say the law is outdated and point to its recent use during World War II to hold Japanese-Americans in internment camps without prosecution.
The number of US Border Patrol encounters with illegal immigrants from Mexico reached a record 250,000 in December 2023, the same as 2020, the final year of Trump’s first term.
