President-elect Donald J. Trump announced plans on Monday to declare a national emergency and use the U.S. military to carry out what he’s calling the largest mass deportation of illegal immigrants in history.
Trump highlighted the initiative on his Truth Social platform, amplifying a post from Judicial Watch President John Fitton, who claimed, “GOOD NEWS: Reports are the incoming @RealDonaldTrump administration prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program.” Trump enthusiastically confirmed, replying, “TRUE!!!”
Details about which military branches might be involved remain unclear. However, the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 poses a significant hurdle, as it restricts the military’s role in domestic law enforcement. Initially covering only the Army, later amendments expanded the act to include the Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force.
Approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants currently reside in the U.S., down from a 2007 peak of 12.2 million, according to Pew Research Center data. Migrant rights organizations are gearing up for legal battles to challenge Trump’s plans, which align with his campaign pledge for an unprecedented crackdown on illegal immigration.
Trump has stacked his incoming administration with hardline immigration officials. His picks include Tom Homan, a seasoned immigration enforcer, as the next “border czar,” South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary, and longtime ally Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff for policy.
Both Homan and Miller played central roles in Trump’s previous immigration policies, including the controversial “family separation” policy, which divided migrant children from their parents to deter illegal border crossings. Despite public outcry, thousands of these children remain separated from their families. Meanwhile, Noem, a staunch Trump supporter, has championed immigration crackdowns and advocated punishing “sanctuary cities” during Trump’s first term.
With these figures leading the charge, Trump’s proposed mass deportation program is already facing fierce criticism and looming legal challenges.
