Rights advocates criticize Trump’s mass deportation plan as he confirms military involvement
President-elect Donald Trump has confirmed he is “prepared” to declare a national emergency and use military assets to fulfill his 2024 campaign promise of executing mass deportations. Trump’s announcement came on Monday via a post on his Truth Social platform, responding to Tom Fitton, president of the conservative group Judicial Watch, who wrote on November 8 about the incoming administration’s plans.
Fitton claimed Trump’s team was “prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets” for the “largest deportation operation” in U.S. history. Trump’s response, a simple “True!!!,” reinforced the seriousness of his intent.
The plan has sparked widespread criticism and raised significant legal and logistical questions. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, pointed out the legal limitations of Trump’s proposal, noting, “Under U.S. law, presidents may declare a national emergency and exert emergency powers only in specific situations. And ‘use the military for deportations’ isn’t one of those specific things.”
Experts also highlight the scale of the challenge. An estimated 11-13 million undocumented residents live in the U.S., and rights groups warn of severe humanitarian consequences if Trump’s plan proceeds. The American Immigration Council estimates that deporting one million people annually—a fourfold increase from current rates—would cost nearly $968 billion over a decade.
Trump has shared limited details on how his administration would execute such a large-scale operation. Stephen Miller, Trump’s incoming deputy chief of staff for policy, has previously suggested “deputizing” the National Guard to carry out the raids. Tom Homan, the former head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Trump’s new “border czar,” indicated plans for “targeted enforcement,” focusing on work sites and threats to public safety and national security. Homan added that families would be deported together to avoid separations.
On the campaign trail, Trump also mentioned invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which allows for deportations of citizens from enemy nations. However, legal experts argue this law cannot be applied for mass deportations.
Rights advocates have expressed alarm over the potential humanitarian impact, emphasizing the risks to millions of undocumented individuals, while legal experts predict a wave of challenges to any attempt to implement such measures.
