President-elect Donald Trump’s first historic act in the White House will be signing 10 executive orders specifically focused on the border, the first of more than 200 actions that his office has promised to blast through in his first days in office.
“The president and his team today will immediately prioritize tackling the national security and public safety threats that have resulted from our open border,” an incoming senior Trump administration official said in a call with reporters Monday morning.
Trump will declare a national emergency at the border
The action will allow the Defense Department to deploy active-duty and National Guard military to the southern border, erect barriers, and work on ways to take down enemy drones.
The number of troops deployed will be at the discretion of the Pentagon.
Clarify the military’s role in protecting the territorial integrity of the United States
“What this action does is it assigns the mission to seal our borders and institute campaign planning requirements for the military,” one official said. “The executive order directs the military to prioritize our borders and territory integrity in strategic planning for its operations, to maintain sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of the U.S. by repelling forms of invasion, including unlawful mass migration, narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and trafficking and other criminal activities.”
End “catch and release,” restart “Remain in Mexico, and build the wall
“This specifically directs building the wall and detaining and deporting illegal aliens, prioritizes public safety, and developing federal and safe partnerships to enforce immigration policies and priorities,” an official said on the call.
Designate criminal cartels and others as specifically designated global terrorists
“This initiates a process that will lead to the designation of the cartels like the aforementioned Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as [foreign terrorist organizations], and for specifically designated local terrorists, it directs the removal of Tren de Aragua gang members,” one official said. “And it finds, under the Alien Enemies Act, that the gang is an irregular armed force of Venezuela’s government conducting a predatory incursion and invasion into the United States.”
Suspend refugee resettlement for at least four months
Start immediate removals
Through a proclamation, there will be the start of the removal process without the possibility of asylum for immigrants at the border who do not meet grounds for credible fear, the first step of asylum.
End birthright citizenship
Enhance vetting and screening of illegal immigrants
“We are going to direct agencies to report to the president regarding recommendations for the suspension of entry for nationals of any country of particular concerns,” the official said.
Protect the public against invasion
“What this particular action does is it rescinds the open borders policies of the Biden administration and equips agents and officers of [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] with the authorities needed to deport illegal aliens from the U.S.,” one official said. “It also reaffirms the faithful execution of the immigration law, prioritizes enforcement actions against criminal illegal aliens, and establishes federal Homeland Security Task Forces to cooperate with state and local law enforcement in the removal of gangs, criminals, and illegal aliens from the United States.”
Restore the death penalty in public safety
“This action, in particular, directs the attorney general in capital punishment for the murder of law enforcement officers and capital crimes committed by illegal aliens. It encourages state [attorneys general] and district attorneys to bring capital state charges for these crimes,” the official said.