Donald Trump won’t be messing around when his second term starts in January.
On Monday, Trump revealed on social media that he would deploy U.S. “military assets” to deport foreigners in the country illegally.
He said he would declare a “national emergency” and empower the U.S. military to take action.
Trump made the revelation on his social media platform, Truth Social, in response to a post from Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton suggesting he would do so.
Trump responded: “TRUE!!!”
The New York Post has the story:
President-elect Donald Trump confirmed Monday he would declare a “national emergency” to deport illegal migrants using “military assets” once he steps back into office early next year.
Trump made the statement on Truth Social, responding “TRUE!!!” to a post from Judicial Watch’s Tom Fitton citing reports he would do so.
“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,” Fitton wrote on the social media platform.
Trump has vowed to enact the largest deportation in history, starting when he takes the oath of office Jan. 20.
Any attempt to use active-duty troops would be subject to legal challenges, as the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 limits the federal government from using the military to enforce domestic policy.
The act does not prohibit the National Guard from serving in a law enforcement capacity.
The president-elect has also said he would invoke the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to dismantle criminal gangs operating on American soil.
The act — which requires Congress to declare war — would allow Trump to detain and remove dangerous foreign nationals that are deemed a threat to the US. Trump has yet to say whether he would declare war on a specific country — such as Venezuela — to authorize the removal of migrants.
The former president is prioritizing the border in his transition plans and has created a new “border czar” position for former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement chief Tom Homan, who will work with government agencies to secure both the south and northern borders.