Trump wants to use a state of emergency and the military for his mass expulsions plan

Photo: Alex Brandon Associated Press Donald Trump said in April that the National Guard “should be able” to handle deportations. “If it’s not, I’ll use the military,” he told Time magazine.

Agence France-Presse in Washington

Published at 12:39

• United States

Donald Trump said Monday he plans to declare a national emergency to carry out his plan to mass expel migrants, and confirmed that he plans to use military force to do so.

“Good news: There are reports that the incoming Donald Trump administration is prepared to declare a national emergency and use military resources to fight the [President Joe] Biden invasion through a program of mass deportations,” wrote Tom Fitton, director of the conservative organization Judicial Watch, on the president-elect’s platform, Truth Social.

A post to which the Republican billionaire simply responded on the same social network: “That’s true!”

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The United States has more than 11 million illegal immigrants, according to estimates, and human rights groups are concerned about the ravages of the Republican’s plan on this population and on the rule of law.

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Economic repercussions

A multitude of economists have also warned that in addition to the staggering cost of such a program, the return of millions of migrant workers would have immeasurable repercussions on the American economy, which is already experiencing a labor shortage.

Donald Trump had declared in April that the National Guard, a military body dependent on the American states, “should be capable” of handling deportations.

“If not, I would use the military,” meaning federal troops, he told the magazine Time.

The Constitution allows the president to declare a “national emergency” in exceptional situations. During his first term, Donald Trump implemented this provision “concerning the southern border” of the United States, in order to appropriate $8 billion in budget to build a wall on the border with Mexico.

Fueled by his victory in November and before taking office on January 20, Donald Trump has already signaled his willingness to act quickly on this issue, notably appointing three hard-liners on immigration to key positions.

Tom Homan, former director of the agency responsible for immigration control (ICE) during Trump's first term, has this time been named “border czar”, an ad hoc position whose contours and responsibilities are still unclear.

Between 2017 and 2018, he oversaw a policy, as brief as it was controversial, which led to the separation of 4,000 migrant children from their parents in detention.

“If you're here illegally, you'd better watch your back,” said this former police officer in July.