INVOKING A NATIONAL EMERGENCY: President Donald J. Trump today signed an Executive Order, invoking the National Emergencies Act to address the escalating crisis at the United States’ Southern Border. This decisive action formally declares a national emergency in response to the unprecedented surge of illegal immigration witnessed over the past four years.
This emergency declaration empowers key government agencies to take immediate and robust action. The Executive Order specifically directs the Secretary of Defense to deploy additional personnel to the southern border, including members of the United States Armed Forces and the National Guard. Furthermore, it mandates the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to expedite the completion of the wall along the southern border. The order also ensures that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) possesses the operational flexibility required for conducting essential air missions in the border region.
TAKING BACK CONTROL OF THE BORDER: The declaration of a national emergency underscores the federal government’s commitment to regaining control of the Southern Border. For the last four years, a lack of consistent federal enforcement has contributed to a severe immigration crisis. In instances where states like Texas have attempted to implement preventative measures against illegal border crossings, the federal government has actively intervened to dismantle these state-level barriers.
The scale of the crisis is evident in the staggering figures. Between Fiscal Year 2021 and Fiscal Year 2024, there have been a record-breaking 8.72 million border encounters at the southern border. This influx has overwhelmed border security resources and placed communities at significant risk. The consequences of this border crisis are far-reaching and devastating:
- Human Trafficking: Untold hundreds of thousands of children have become victims of trafficking as a result of the porous border. Since FY21, approximately 550,000 unaccompanied alien children have been encountered at the border.
- Drug Crisis: Fentanyl and other dangerous drugs are being smuggled across the border and into American communities. Drug overdoses claimed the lives of roughly 75,000 Americans in 2023 alone, making it the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45.
- Gang Violence: Dangerous criminal organizations, such as the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, have exploited the open border to establish themselves and terrorize American cities.
- Violence Against Americans: Innocent American citizens, including Laken Riley, Jocelyn Nungaray, and Rachel Morin, have been murdered in crimes linked to the border crisis, highlighting the severe public safety implications.
BUILDING ON PAST BORDER SECURITY EFFORTS: The current situation at the Southern Border is critical, demanding immediate government action. President Trump previously declared a national emergency at the Southern Border on February 15, 2019, and extended it on February 13, 2020. These earlier declarations followed historic surges in illegal immigration in 2018 and were successful in reducing illegal border crossings.
President Trump pledged in 2024 to declare another emergency to secure the border and deploy the military as necessary to protect American citizens from foreign threats. This Executive Order aims to achieve operational control of the border, dismantle cartel operations, and ensure national security.
As President Trump stated in 2018, “Illegal immigration affects the lives of all Americans. Illegal immigration hurts American workers; burdens American taxpayers; and undermines public safety; and places enormous strain on local schools, hospitals, and communities in general, taking precious resources away from the poorest Americans who need them most. Illegal immigration costs our country billions and billions of dollars each year…And I will therefore take every lawful action at my disposal to address this crisis. And that’s what we’re doing.” This declaration of a national emergency represents a decisive step towards fulfilling that commitment and addressing the ongoing crisis at the Southern Border.
