President-elect Donald Trump has confirmed plans to declare a national emergency to fulfill his campaign promise of mass deportations of migrants living in the U.S. without legal status.
Trump made the statement in response to a social media post by Judicial Watch’s Tom Fitton, who claimed the incoming administration was preparing such a declaration and might use “military assets” to carry out the deportations. Trump replied on X (formerly Twitter), “TRUE!!!” and reiterated his commitment to launching the program immediately upon taking office.
“On Day 1, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history to get the criminals out,” Trump declared during a rally at Madison Square Garden in the final days of his presidential campaign. He promised to “rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered” by removing “vicious and bloodthirsty criminals” and expelling them from the country “as fast as possible.”
Trump’s agenda for his first day in office is extensive. When asked if he would act as a dictator if re-elected, he quipped, “Only on Day 1.” His proposed actions include mass deportations, dismantling Biden administration policies on education, reshaping the federal government by firing thousands of employees he accuses of undermining him, and pardoning individuals arrested for their involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
On pardons, Trump has made clear his intention to release those jailed for their role in the riot. He also highlighted plans to “drill, drill, drill” and secure the borders. “I want to close the border, and I want to drill, drill, drill,” he said of his priorities.
Trump’s ambitious first-day plans echo promises he made when he first assumed office in 2017, which included renegotiating trade deals, deporting undocumented migrants, and rooting out government corruption. However, many of those pledges faced delays. This time, Trump has also vowed to fire Jack Smith, the special counsel prosecuting two federal cases against him, “within two seconds” of taking office.