Trump Declares National Emergency on Border, Deploys Military as Migrant Caravan Marches.

Trump Declares National Emergency on Border, Deploys Military and National Guard

On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump declared a "national emergency" on the U.S.-Mexico border, citing a drop in monthly migrant crossings by about half to two-thirds in the past six months. He vowed to deploy the military and National Guard to seal the border and deport millions of undocumented migrants already in the U.S.

Trump also reactivated the "Remain in Mexico" program to keep asylum seekers outside of U.S. territory and suspended former president Joe Biden's asylum program for migrants fleeing Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Haiti.

Migrant Caravan Marches Towards U.S. Border

Despite Trump's deportation order, more than 2,000 migrants from various countries began marching from southern Mexico hoping to enter the U.S. Mexico began setting up a large tent complex near the border in Juarez to shelter those who seek to cross the border.

Mexico Prepares for Deportations

Mexico officials said they can handle the expulsion of migrants because migration flows have been slow in recent months. According to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), illegal crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border have been hovering around 100,000 a month since July 2024, which is about one-third to one-half of the flows in the same month in the previous year.

CBP Officers Deploy Near Border Bridge

On Tuesday, a group of CBP officers in riot gear were seen marching near the temporarily closed border bridge in Brownsville, Texas. Brownville resident Jaylee Cadriel said that CBP officers screamed at him to leave the area while he was waiting for his pregnant wife to cross the border.

Trump Administration Deploys Troops and Increases Deportations

The Trump administration announced it would send 1,500 active-duty troops to the border by month's end. The Pentagon is also sending helicopters and intelligence analysts to support increased detection and monitoring efforts. The military tasks include providing airlift to support deportation flights and assisting in the construction of temporary and permanent physical barriers.

The Department of Justice ordered U.S. attorneys around the country to investigate and prosecute law enforcement officials in states and cities if they refuse to enforce the new immigration policies.

House Passes Bill Requiring Detainment of Unauthorized Immigrants

The House of Representatives approved a bill that requires the detainment of unauthorized immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes. The Senate approved the legislation, called the Laken Riley Act, earlier this week, and it will now head to Trump for his signature. The legislation is named after a University of Georgia nursing student who was murdered last year by a Venezuelan migrant.