President-elect Donald Trump on Monday confirmed his plans to declare a national emergency on border security and utilize U.S. military forces for a mass deportation of undocumented migrants. The announcement comes as Trump moves forward with his immigration-focused agenda following his victory in the November 5 election.
Trump reiterated his stance on his social media platform, Truth Social, sharing a post from a conservative activist that stated he was “prepared to declare a national emergency” and use military assets to reverse what the activist called the “Biden invasion” through mass deportations. In response, Trump commented, “True!”
The announcement reflects Trump’s ongoing focus on immigration reform. Since his electoral win, the president-elect has quickly assembled a cabinet that includes hardliners on immigration, such as naming former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director, Tom Homan, as his “border czar.”
Homan, a prominent figure in Trump’s immigration policies, previously warned illegal immigrants during the Republican National Convention in July: “You better start packing now,” referring to those who were released under President Biden’s policies.
The mass deportation plan could affect millions of undocumented individuals in the U.S. Estimates suggest approximately 11 million people are living in the country illegally, and Trump’s program could impact up to 20 million families.
Throughout his campaign, Trump consistently described the influx of migrants as an existential threat to American security, arguing that illegal immigration brings crime and violence. He has also suggested invoking the **Alien Enemies Act of 1798**, a law last used during World War II to justify the internment of Japanese Americans, to expedite deportations.
While some critics view the law as outdated and overly broad, concerns have been raised that such a move could undermine civil liberties and lead to significant human rights violations.
Border patrol encounters with migrants attempting to cross illegally have risen dramatically, with recent reports showing numbers similar to those from 2020, Trump’s final year in office. The peak of such encounters reached 250,000 in December 2023, underscoring the growing tension surrounding U.S. border security.
