It was his biggest campaign promise, and Donald Trump wasted no time delivering.
With a bold offensive, the newly inaugurated U.S. President set his sights on border security, immigration freezes, and mass deportations. While his decisive actions were expected, the sheer scale and intensity of his strategies caught many by surprise.
Emergency Declared at the Mexican Border
Back in the Oval Office, Trump immediately signed multiple executive orders. Among them, he declared a “national emergency” at the Mexican border, enabling the U.S. military to assist with border security and the construction of the border wall.
- The immigration app CBP One, introduced by predecessor Joe Biden to streamline legal entry, was shut down due to alleged “abuse.” Over 936,500 individuals had used the app since January 2023 for appointments with immigration authorities.
- Trump issued an executive order revising birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S., a move that already faces lawsuits from 18 states, as the provision is constitutionally protected.
- Policies from Trump’s first term requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for case outcomes were reinstated, and refugee resettlement programs were suspended for at least four months.
Targeting Cartels and Domestic Raids
Trump went further, designating Mexican cartels and gangs such as “Tren de Aragua” and “MS-13” as foreign terrorist organizations. He even hinted at the possibility of deploying U.S. troops beyond the border.
Meanwhile, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids were planned in major U.S. cities. Tom Homan, Trump’s newly appointed Border Czar, announced that the first arrests were set for Tuesday morning. Initial reports suggested Chicago as the starting point, but plans shifted following media leaks.
Trump’s Hardline Message
In his inaugural address, Trump made his stance clear: “All illegal entries will stop immediately, and we will begin deporting millions upon millions of criminal aliens back to where they came from.”
This tough approach has substantial public backing, with 66% of Americans supporting the deportation of illegal immigrants, according to an Axios/Ipsos poll.
Legal Challenges Loom
While Trump’s policies are expected to face a wave of lawsuits, insiders claim the executive orders were carefully reviewed for legal soundness. “They’re bulletproof,” one source told CNN.
Context and Goals
Under Biden’s tenure, over 8.2 million migrants were apprehended at the border, with an estimated 1.7 million additional crossings undetected. By contrast, Trump’s first term saw 1.4 million apprehensions. Now, Trump is determined to drastically reduce these numbers through his stringent border policies.
