When Donald Trump steps into office on January 20, he is expected to immediately push forward with some of his most controversial plans, including the mass deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants. According to Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the Trump transition team, his advisors are already working tirelessly on a series of executive orders that will be signed in the early days of his presidency.
During his campaign, Trump repeatedly discussed the deportation of up to 20 million undocumented individuals currently living in the United States. His team has confirmed that the new president intends to make these plans a reality right from the start. “On day one he’s going to open the largest deportation of illegal immigrants in American history,” Leavitt told Fox News, signaling that his administration will waste no time in implementing these drastic measures.
Trump has drawn inspiration from past deportation efforts, such as the large-scale actions taken during President Eisenhower’s administration in 1954. That campaign, known as “Operation Wetback,” resulted in the mass deportation of roughly one million Mexican nationals. Trump has expressed admiration for this historic event and has indicated that he is willing to use military forces to help execute his plans. Although he’s mentioned the use of the military, he clarified, “when we talk military, generally speaking, I talk National Guard.”
Trump’s rhetoric has also suggested that legal barriers that prevent the use of the military on civilians might not stop his intended actions. “These aren’t civilians,” Trump remarked when asked about the potential legal restrictions. “These are people that aren’t legally in our country. This is an invasion of our country.”
In addition to deportations, Trump’s administration is set to bring back the controversial “Remain in Mexico” policy. This would require migrants to stay on the Mexican side of the border while their asylum claims are processed in the US. The policy also mandates that migrants must attend court hearings in the US to determine the outcome of their asylum cases.
Other executive orders on Trump’s first day will focus on energy policy, including moves to expedite fracking and drilling activities. Leavitt confirmed that Trump plans to reverse several actions taken by President Biden, signaling a sharp turn toward more energy-focused policies that favor deregulation.
Leavitt also praised Trump’s dedication to his transition work, stating, “This man is already working around the clock.” Meanwhile, the international community is beginning to grapple with the potential shift in US foreign policy under a Trump presidency, particularly regarding support for Ukraine. UK officials have already begun to plan for various scenarios, with one minister saying, “Officials will be considering and planning lots of different scenarios – as they would do under any administration – to make sure that the UK is in the strongest possible position.”
With the clock ticking down to Inauguration Day, the world is watching closely to see how Trump’s aggressive plans unfold and what long-term effects they will have on both domestic and global policies. The stakes are high, and both supporters and critics are preparing for what could be a major shift in American governance.
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