One expert says concerns about President-elect Trump's plan to declare a state of emergency at the border and use the military as part of a mass deportation plan are overblown.
“This country is not going to be militarized,” Alfonso Aguilar, former head of the U.S. Civil Rights Division and director of Hispanic engagement at the American Principles Project, told FOX News Digital. “Neighborhoods with immigrants will not become militarized.”
The comments come after President Trump confirmed reports on Monday via Truth Social that he was “ready to declare a national emergency and use military assets to reverse Biden's invasion through a mass deportation program.” It is something that
“The American people re-elected President Trump by a wide margin and gave him a mandate to deliver on the promises he made during his campaign,” Caroline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump's transition team, told Fox News Digital. I'm sure it will come true.”
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Former President Trump speaks at the U.S.-Mexico border in southern Sierra Vista, Arizona, on August 22, 2024. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
These plans have been rumored throughout much of the Trump campaign and have raised concerns among some critics that a future Trump administration would deploy troops on American streets.
“They are promising to use the military to attack American families in a major way on a scale that is reminiscent of some of the worst acts our country has ever committed,” President Todd Schulte said. FWD.usImmigrant advocacy groups told The Associated Press in October.
But Agriard argued that the military should play a supporting role, providing logistical support to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
“There's a lot of fearmongering from the left and the media,” Agrial said. “These will be targeted arrests rather than neighborhood sweeps… going after the criminals first.”
“We expect the military to participate in support,” he continued. “You're detaining people, so you have to move these people and provide them with shelter.”
ICE agents attempt to apprehend illegal immigrants during an operation in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, on April 11, 2018. (John Moore/Getty Images)
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Aguilar noted that federal law limits how President Trump can use military force in the country, so ICE agents will likely lead deportation efforts with military logistical support. At the border, the military could serve as a show of force, while also serving as the eyes and ears for Border Patrol agents across multiple sectors.
“Historically, that's how we use our military,” Agriard said. “They enforce projections to deter people from coming in, but their role is basically to help with discovery…to help with movement.” [migrants] Up to the bus…all the logistics. ”
Agriard also said ICE is likely to make more widespread use of workplace raids, in which case military logistics might also be used to help detain and deport apprehended immigrants. he claimed.
“We're not going to release troops into neighborhoods to detect illegal immigrants,” Agriard said.
In this undated photo, Texas National Guard soldiers reinforce razor wire in El Paso, Texas. (Governor Greg Abbotts Office)
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Meanwhile, many blue state leaders have announced plans to oppose Trump's deportation plan, and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said she has “nothing in her toolbox” to protect her state's immigrant population. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has made clear that he is prepared to use “all means available.” “We will do everything we can to protect illegal immigrants.”
“We can't prohibit federal law enforcement from coming into our state and doing raids and things like that,” Pritzker said last week. “On the other hand, I think it would be very difficult for them to spread across the country. We don't have enough personnel in the Department of Homeland Security to do that.”
