President-elect Donald Trump has reaffirmed his intent to declare a national emergency over border security and deploy the U.S. military to execute a large-scale deportation of undocumented immigrants.
Immigration, a central issue of Trump’s 2024 campaign, has dominated discussions since his victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election. Trump has pledged to secure the southern border, citing what he describes as record-breaking illegal crossings during President Joe Biden’s tenure.
Taking to his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump shared and endorsed a post from a conservative activist claiming he was “prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program.” Trump confirmed the statement with a simple, “True!”
The president-elect has already begun assembling a team of staunch immigration hardliners. Among his selections is former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acting chief Tom Homan, who has been tapped as the “border czar.” Homan recently stated, “I got a message to the millions of illegal immigrants that Joe Biden’s released in our country: You better start packing now.”
Experts estimate that approximately 11 million undocumented individuals currently reside in the United States. Trump’s sweeping deportation plan could significantly affect up to 20 million families.
During his campaign, Trump repeatedly vowed to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite removals, although critics argue the law is antiquated and controversial. The act was last used to detain Japanese-Americans during World War II without due process, a historical precedent many see as troubling.
While Trump’s supporters praise his commitment to border security, his fiery rhetoric has drawn sharp criticism. Detractors argue that his warnings of an “invasion” are exaggerated and stigmatize migrants. Trump has also faced backlash for making inflammatory remarks, including his claims that undocumented immigrants “poison the blood” of America.
