President-Elect Trump Plans Mass Deportations, Declares Border Security a National Emergency

Translate In Arabic

President-elect Donald Trump confirmed plans on Monday to declare a national emergency on border security, enabling the U.S. military to carry out a mass deportation program targeting undocumented migrants. This move marks a dramatic escalation of Trump's campaign promises to address illegal immigration, a central issue of his 2024 election campaign.

On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump endorsed claims from a conservative activist about his intent to use military assets for mass deportations. Trump commented “True!” alongside the repost, signaling his administration's readiness to implement sweeping immigration measures upon taking office.

Trump’s plans come after a decisive electoral victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris on November 5. He has since begun assembling a cabinet, naming immigration hardliners such as former ICE acting chief Tom Homan as his "border czar." Homan has echoed Trump’s tough stance, warning undocumented migrants to “start packing now.”

Impact of the Plan

The U.S. government estimates that 11 million undocumented individuals currently live in the country, with Trump’s proposed measures expected to directly impact nearly 20 million families. Trump has vowed to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite deportations, a controversial law last used during World War II to detain Japanese-Americans. Critics have called the law outdated and unconstitutional.

Trump has further justified his approach with claims of an “invasion” at the southern border, asserting that migrants threaten public safety—a narrative often disputed by immigration experts. U.S. border encounters have decreased since December 2023, when they peaked at 250,000 crossings in a single month. Current figures align with levels last seen in 2020 during Trump’s first term.

Privacy Concerns

Civil liberties groups and immigration advocates have raised alarms about Trump’s potential use of advanced surveillance technology to enforce these policies. Experts fear that facial recognition, data broker systems, and other invasive tools could violate privacy rights while enabling large-scale deportations.

“Trump’s administration could exploit technology to compile lists of immigrants for removal, threatening fundamental civil liberties,” warned a spokesperson for an immigration rights group.

Looking Ahead

While Trump has not provided detailed plans for his crackdown, his rhetoric has drawn sharp criticism for its incendiary tone. His use of phrases such as “poison the blood” has sparked concerns of xenophobia and misinformation about immigrants.

As Trump prepares to take office, the nation remains divided over the implications of his policies, with supporters lauding his strong stance on border security and critics warning of potential human rights violations. Whether his proposed measures will withstand legal and political challenges remains to be seen.