In a bold proclamation, former President Donald J. Trump has declared a national emergency at the southern border of the United States, citing an ongoing invasion that he claims threatens America’s sovereignty.
According to Trump, the southern border is currently overrun by criminal organizations, including cartels, human traffickers, and unvetted individuals from foreign adversaries.
He emphasized that this situation has escalated over the last four years, causing chaos and suffering across the nation.
The former President lamented the tragic deaths of innocent American citizens, including women and children, at the hands of illegal aliens, asserting that foreign criminal gangs have begun to seize control of urban areas and terrorize communities.
Trump stated that hundreds of thousands of Americans have died as a result of drug overdoses linked to narcotics that flow across the southern border, asserting that this scenario represents a grave threat to national security.
In light of what he describes as an emergency situation, Trump has called for the Armed Forces to assist the Department of Homeland Security in regaining control of the southern border.
He stressed his duty as Commander in Chief to protect the American people from the dangers posed by illegal immigration and to ensure the enforcement of existing laws.
“As Commander in Chief, I have no more solemn duty than to protect the American people,” Trump declared, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Under the authority vested in him by the Constitution and the National Emergencies Act, Trump has invoked specific sections to mobilize military resources to respond to the crisis at the southern border.
Section 12302 of title 10, United States Code, has been activated and made available to military leaders to assist in managing this emergency, enabling a significant deployment of military personnel and resources along the border.
In the proclamation, Trump directed the Secretary of Defense to take necessary actions to support Homeland Security, including providing detention space, transportation, and logistics services to support law enforcement operations.
The proclamation mandates immediate construction of additional physical barriers along the southern border, with both the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security required to coordinate with state governors willing to assist in these efforts.
Furthermore, the Secretary of Transportation and the Federal Communications Commission are tasked with considering waivers for regulations that may restrict the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to counter unmanned aerial systems operating near the southern border.
The actions outlined in the proclamation seek to prioritize the impediment and denial of unauthorized entry of individuals across the border while also ensuring the safety of personnel involved.
In a significant move, Trump revoked Proclamation 10142, issued by the previous administration in January 2021, which had terminated the emergency related to the southern border and diverted funds intended for border wall construction.
As part of this new emergency declaration, the Secretary of Defense is required to submit a report outlining the actions taken to address the requirements of the proclamation within 30 days.
Additionally, a joint report from the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security is to be submitted within 90 days, detailing border conditions and potential further actions needed to regain operational control.
The proclamation makes clear that nothing within this directive should impair the authority granted to executive departments, agencies, or their heads.
Moreover, it emphasizes that the proclamation is to be implemented in accordance with applicable laws and the availability of appropriations, without creating any enforceable rights by outside parties against the government.
In conclusion, this declaration marks a significant escalation in the government’s response to what Trump deems a national crisis at the southern border, with military resources poised to play a pivotal role in border enforcement efforts.
As the implications of this move unfold, it remains to be seen how it will impact the ongoing debates surrounding immigration policy and national security in the United States.
image source from:https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/declaring-a-national-emergency-at-the-southern-border-of-the-united-states/