President-elect Donald Trump has reaffirmed his intention to declare a national emergency on border security and utilize military resources to address undocumented immigration.
Immigration reform was a cornerstone of Trump’s campaign, during which he pledged to deport millions of undocumented individuals and secure the U.S.-Mexico border following record migrant crossings under President Joe Biden’s administration.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump endorsed claims from a conservative activist about his readiness to enact emergency measures, stating his plans to implement a mass deportation program. He emphasized this position with a comment, “True!”
Having defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election, Trump has started assembling a cabinet focused on stringent immigration policies.
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Among his key appointments is former ICE Acting Chief Tom Homan as "border czar." Homan has previously warned undocumented migrants to “start packing,” signaling an aggressive enforcement stance.
Approximately 11 million individuals currently reside in the U.S. without legal status, and Trump’s policies are expected to affect nearly 20 million families. Critics have expressed alarm over his rhetoric, which has included claims of an "invasion" by migrants and unverified assertions linking immigration to crime.
Trump has also cited the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 as a legal basis to expedite deportations, a law previously criticized for its outdated provisions and historical misuse during World War II to detain Japanese-Americans.
While border challenges have persisted for years, recent statistics show migrant crossings in line with 2020 figures, following a record high of 250,000 encounters in December 2023.
Trump’s administration promises a hardline approach to curb illegal immigration, framing it as a matter of national security and public safety.
