US President-Elect, Donald Trump has confirmed that he intends to declare a national emergency over border security and deploy the U.S. military to implement a large-scale deportation of undocumented immigrants.
Immigration was a central issue in Trump’s campaign, during which he vowed to deport millions of undocumented individuals and strengthen the U.S.-Mexico border following record levels of illegal crossings during President Joe Biden’s administration.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump reposted a statement by a conservative activist claiming he was “prepared to declare a national emergency and use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program.” Trump added his own comment: “True!”
Trump secured his return to the presidency with a victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election.
Since then, he has begun assembling a cabinet with a hardline stance on immigration, including the appointment of former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acting chief Tom Homan as his “border czar.”
Homan, a vocal critic of Biden’s immigration policies, addressed supporters at the Republican National Convention in July, saying: “To the millions of illegal immigrants Joe Biden let into this country: Start packing now.”
Approximately 11 million people are estimated to be living in the U.S. without legal status. Trump’s plan could directly impact up to 20 million families.
While successive administrations have faced challenges managing the southern border, Trump has escalated the rhetoric, describing the situation as an “invasion” by migrants he claims threaten public safety.
