Trump Declares National Border Emergency: Plans for Military Deployment, Birthright Citizenship Reform, and More.
President Donald Trump, 78, declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday, directing the U.S. military to take action against "forms of invasion," including illegal immigration and drug trafficking. This announcement marks a significant escalation in Trump's efforts to enforce stringent immigration policies and secure the southern border.
A soldier from the 1st Armored Division, stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, observes the international border near Nogales, Arizona, on February 27, 2019. (Keith Anderson/U.S. Army)
resident Donald Trump has declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, directing the military to tackle illegal immigration and drug trafficking. His executive orders aim to enforce stricter immigration policies, including birthright citizenship reforms and the completion of the border wall. This bold move sets the stage for significant changes in U.S. immigration enforcement and border security.
In his statement, Trump said, “I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. All illegal entry will be immediately halted and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of illegal aliens back to the places from which they came.” The announcement, made just before 9 p.m., set the stage for a series of executive actions aimed at addressing what he referred to as the "widespread chaos" at the border under the Biden administration.
Key Executive Orders on Immigration and Border Security
Trump’s executive orders outline a comprehensive approach to border enforcement, including several controversial measures. These include halting refugee resettlement, completing the construction of the border wall, restricting entry from "countries of concern," and pursuing a move to end birthright citizenship for children born to certain foreign nationals.
White House officials revealed that the administration would also classify criminal cartels as “global terrorist organisations,” which would enable the deployment of military forces to target these criminal entities. While the specifics regarding military engagement remain unclear, this designation is expected to help combat drug trafficking and violence along the border.
In addition, the Trump administration plans to utilise the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to combat foreign-affiliated criminal gangs. As Trump stated, “I will direct our government to use the full and immense power of federal and state law enforcement to eliminate the presence of all foreign gangs and criminal networks bringing devastating crime to the U.S. soil, including our cities and inner cities.”
Border Wall Funding and Legal Challenges
A significant aspect of Trump’s emergency declaration is the allocation of funds for border security measures, particularly the construction of the border wall. Elizabeth Goitein, senior director for liberty and national security at the Brennan Center for Justice, noted that invoking the national emergency power could allow Trump to access funds from the Department of Defence for this purpose. “This is going to be fought out in the courts,” Goitein explained, indicating that legal battles are expected to challenge the reallocation of military funds for the border wall.
Additionally, the administration is facing opposition from immigrant advocacy groups, which are preparing to contest the executive orders through legal means. Paige Austin, a litigation attorney at Make the Road New York, noted that legal action might be necessary to safeguard birthright citizenship, a constitutional right that could be at risk under Trump’s proposals.
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Opposition and Legal Challenges
Several immigrant advocacy organisations have already filed legal motions in response to these executive actions. For instance, the Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso has argued that the cancellation of CBP One appointments, which allowed migrants to schedule entry appointments at the border, undermines the right to seek asylum.
Greisa Martínez Rosas, executive director of United We Dream Action, criticised the new measures, describing them as part of a “terror campaign against immigrants.” She stated, “We will be faced with the chaos. The terrain we are facing is horrendous and devastating.”
Trump's push for a "mass deportation" policy has been a hallmark of his administration. However, his plans face significant legal hurdles, particularly regarding the status of birthright citizenship. Goitein pointed out that previous federal courts had ruled against the border wall's funding under military construction laws, although the issue remains unresolved as it is pending Supreme Court review.
Trump’s Border Security Agenda: A Strong Push for Change
Despite the challenges, Trump has remained resolute in his efforts to reshape U.S. immigration policies. His proposed reforms are in line with his campaign promises to secure the border, dismantle criminal cartels, and overhaul the immigration system. The creation of the national emergency is the latest step in his broader strategy to curb illegal immigration and protect national security.
Chad Wolf, former acting secretary of Homeland Security, supported the executive order classifying Mexican cartels as terrorist organisations, asserting, “To secure our borders, protect our communities, and defend our sovereignty, we must confront the cartels with the full force of the law.”
With the legal landscape set to shift in the coming months, Trump's plans will likely continue to spark debate and provoke challenges in both the courts and public discourse.
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In the past, Donald Trump took a firm stance on immigration, focusing heavily on deportation efforts along the U.S.-Mexico border. One of his central promises was to address illegal immigration and remove individuals living unlawfully in the U.S.
Trump's deportation efforts led to a significant increase in arrests and removals of undocumented immigrants. The administration expanded the criteria for who could be targeted for deportation, including individuals without criminal records, which resulted in widespread raids across the country.
A key policy introduced in 2018 was the "zero tolerance" approach, which aimed to deter illegal border crossings by prosecuting all individuals who entered the U.S. unlawfully, even those seeking asylum. This controversial policy led to family separations, drawing widespread criticism and legal challenges.
Trump also took action against sanctuary cities—local governments that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The administration sought to cut federal funding to these cities, arguing they hindered immigration enforcement.
The U.S.-Mexico border became the focal point for these deportation measures, and Trump prioritised the construction of a border wall. His administration also sought to end DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), a program that protected certain undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.
These policies led to increased deportations but also faced legal challenges and sparked public debates about immigration reform, deeply dividing opinions across the U.S.
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