Trump sets stage for aggressive policy changes as he signs almost 200 orders and vows to deport 'millions'
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In what may yet prove to be the most dramatic first days of any presidency, Donald Trump has set the stage for an aggressive and sweeping change in US policy. Within hours of retaking his seat in the Oval Office, the Commander-in-Chief will sign close to 200 executive orders - many undoing his predecessor Joe Biden's administration. Fulfilling his campaign promises, he immediately began by tackling immigration, environmental regulations, and even American history. Ten of the executive orders implemented Trump's longstanding campaign promises of mass deportations, altering landmark geography names, and dismantling birthright citizenship.
One of his key promises made during his campaign was to take aggressive action against illegal immigration. With the stroke of a pen, he intended to fulfil his promise with a series of executive orders aimed at deporting "millions" of undocumented immigrants. Although critics have raised concerns over the logistics and feasibility of such a sweeping move, the Trump administration appears poised to proceed at full force.
His first move was to declare a "national emergency" at the southern border. Among the orders, Trump authorised a mass expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations designed to send "millions and millions back to where they came from." He authorised the deployment of troops to the southern border. The president empowered the agency to expedite deportations, making it easier to remove those who have been convicted of criminal offences or even those who have overstayed their visas. Additionally, local law enforcement agencies have been incentivised to co-operate with federal immigration authorities, potentially leading to more aggressive round-ups and detainments.
