Donald Trump will use the military to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants

US President-elect Donald Trump has announced his intention to implement the largest mass deportation of undocumented immigrants in the country's history, using the military to do so.

On his platform Truth Social, Trump shared a post by John Fitton, president of the conservative foundation Judicial Watch, who claimed: "The incoming @RealDonaldTrump administration is poised to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse Biden's invasion through a massive deportation program." Trump responded to the message by writing: "TRUE!!!". His message already has 20,000 likes and almost 5,000 retweets.

Although the sectors of the military that could participate in this operation have not been detailed, the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act limits the use of the armed forces in the enforcement of domestic policies within the United States. This restriction, which initially applied only to the Army, has been extended to other branches such as the Navy, Air Force and Space Force.

Trump and his first big controversy

Trump has already appointed key figures to lead his immigration policy. Tom Homan, known for his role in the "family separation" policy during Trump's first term, will be the new "border czar".

Stephen Miller, a staunch advocate of tough immigration measures, will take up a strategic role as deputy chief of staff. In addition, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem will serve as secretary of homeland security, reinforcing the team with a figure known for her support of punishments against "sanctuary cities."

Immigrant rights groups have already announced they will challenge any attempt at mass deportations in court. Meanwhile, an estimated 11 million people are living illegally in the United States, a significantly lower figure than the peak of 12.2 million recorded in 2007, according to the Pew Research Center.