Trump confirms plan to use military for mass deportation
President-elect Donald Trump announced on Monday his intention to declare a national emergency concerning border security and enlist the US military to facilitate a mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.
Immigration was a major focus during the election campaign, and Trump has pledged to deport millions and secure the border with Mexico following unprecedented numbers of migrants crossing illegally under President Joe Biden’s administration.
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump echoed a recent statement by a conservative activist which claimed that the president-elect was “ready to declare a national emergency and will utilize military resources to counteract the Biden invasion through a mass deportation initiative.”
Along with the repost, Trump wrote, “True!”
Trump made a noteworthy return to the presidency with his victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris on November 5.
He has been unveiling a cabinet featuring tough-on-immigration figures, appointing former acting chief of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tom Homan as his “border czar.”
During the Republican National Convention in July, Homan addressed attendees, stating: “I have a message for the millions of illegal immigrants that Joe Biden has released in our country: You better start packing now.”
Authorities estimate that approximately 11 million individuals are residing in the United States without legal status. Trump’s deportation initiative is projected to affect around 20 million families directly.
While the US government has faced difficulties for years in managing its southern border with Mexico, Trump has intensified concerns by asserting that a migrant “invasion” is taking place, claiming that these individuals will commit acts of rape and murder against Americans.
Throughout his campaign, Trump consistently criticized undocumented immigrants, using inflammatory language concerning foreigners he said “pollute the blood” of the United States and providing misleading information to his supporters regarding immigration statistics and policies.
Trump has not provided specifics about his immigration enforcement plans but during his campaign reiterated his commitment to invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to accelerate deportations.
Critics argue that the law is obsolete and highlight its most recent application during World War II when Japanese-Americans were held in internment camps without due legal process.
Currently, the number of US border patrol encounters with migrants illegally crossing from Mexico stands at a level comparable to that of 2020, the final year of Trump’s first term, after reaching a record high of 250,000 for December 2023.
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