Last update:November 18, 2024, 11:21 p.m. IST

Trump’s team is reportedly evaluating steps taken to unlock Pentagon resources to expand detention space and deport illegal immigrants.

Donald Trump had made illegal immigration a key element of his 2024 presidential campaign. (Reuters)

United States President-elect Donald Trump has confirmed that he is prepared to declare a national emergency and use military means to deport millions of illegal immigrants to the United States upon entering into office. function on January 20.

Trump’s team was weighing a national emergency declaration to unlock Pentagon resources to pave the way for expanding detention space, rolling back President Joe Biden’s policies and deportation undocumented immigrants in the United States. CNN reported this weekend.

Those close to the president-elect and his aides are laying the groundwork to expand detention centers to fulfill his promise of a mass deportation campaign, including by reviewing metropolitan areas where capacity exists. They are also preparing executive actions reminiscent of his first term that could be implemented as soon as Trump takes office, sources said. CNN.

Trump’s push for mass deportations

As the November 5 presidential election approaches, Trump has made immigration a central plank of his campaign. However, unlike his first term, which focused on building a border wall to deter immigrants entering from Mexico, his attention has turned to domestic repression and deportation of illegal immigrants already there. in the United States.

Since his victory, Trump has appointed Republican immigration hardliners to his next Cabinet, including Stephen Miller as deputy policy chief and Tom Homan as “border czar,” who have previously promised to deport undocumented immigrants.

Trump is also expected to end President Joe Biden’s humanitarian programs that have allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter legally in recent years and could encourage those whose status has expired to leave voluntarily, sources said. Reuters.

The president-elect accused Biden of allowing high levels of illegal immigration that have impacted crime levels and the economy. Trump aims to further reduce illegal crossings and use a whole-of-government approach to arrest, detain and deport large numbers of people.

What do Trump’s policies look like?

Upcoming executive actions and Trump revisions reportedly in the works include returning the “Remain in Mexico” program, which requires migrants to stay in Mexico during their U.S. immigration process, revising asylum restrictions , the revocation of protections for migrants covered by Biden’s humanitarian parole. programs and rolling back ICE enforcement priorities, according to two sources briefed on the transition policy discussions.

Another planned executive order would make detention mandatory and call for an end to the release of migrants, which often happens across jurisdictions due to limited federal resources. This should pave the way for large-scale detention and deportation of people.

These plans also include the return of family detention, which was criticized by immigrant advocates and ended by Joe Biden when he took office in 2021. The Trump team is also expected to rely on county jails to find additional spaces for undocumented immigrants.

(with contributions from the agency)

Location :

Washington DC, United States of America (USA)