Donald Trump says he is willing to enlist the military to round up and deport migrants

President-elect Donald Trump announced Monday his plans to declare a national emergency on border security, authorizing the U.S. military to carry out a large-scale deportation of undocumented migrants.

Immigration was a central theme in Trump’s campaign, where he pledged to deport millions of migrants and restore stability at the U.S.-Mexico border following record-breaking illegal crossings during President Joe Biden’s administration.

Using his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump amplified a post by a conservative activist that claimed the president-elect was "prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program." Trump added his own comment: "True!"

A Historic Comeback

Trump’s victory on November 5 over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris marked a stunning return to the presidency. Since then, he has been forming a cabinet filled with immigration hardliners, including the appointment of former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acting chief Tom Homan as his "border czar."

At the Republican National Convention in July, Homan warned, “I have a message for the millions of illegal immigrants Joe Biden has allowed into this country: Start packing now.”

Impacts of Deportation Plans

There are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. Trump’s proposed deportation initiative is expected to affect up to 20 million families directly, prompting widespread concerns about the program’s humanitarian and logistical implications.

While managing the U.S.-Mexico border has been a longstanding challenge, Trump has intensified fears by describing an "invasion" of migrants whom he has accused of committing violent crimes against Americans. His campaign rhetoric often included inflammatory claims about undocumented immigrants "poisoning the blood" of the nation, drawing sharp criticism for its incendiary tone.

Legal Framework

Trump has indicated plans to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite deportations. Critics argue that the law is outdated and cite its most infamous use during World War II, when it was employed to detain Japanese-Americans in internment camps without due process.

Current Border Situation

The number of encounters between U.S. Border Patrol and migrants crossing illegally from Mexico has returned to levels seen in 2020, the final year of Trump’s first term, after reaching a record high of 250,000 in December 2023. Trump has not yet provided detailed plans for his immigration crackdown but continues to promise swift and decisive action.