President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to crack down on drug cartels as he appoints three hardline officials to carry out his immigration agenda.
Former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acting Director Tom Homan was chosen as border czar, while adviser Stephen Miller was appointed as deputy chief of staff for policy and South Governor Kristi Noem was nominated for the top job as the Department of Homeland Security secretary.
Homan issued a stark message to crime syndicates operating in Mexico and pledged that the incoming Trump-Vance administration will "take them out." Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said Homan will be the key figure in "driving" immigration policy.
Immigration and border security helped fuel Trump's election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris to reclaim the White House. Republicans could face minimal resistance to their agenda after regaining control of the presidency and Senate, to go along with the House.
Republicans and Democrats back calls for tougher restrictions on migrations, as polling by Gallup shows 55 percent of respondents want to see immigration levels decrease, while 25 percent favored levels remaining the same. In the same poll, a slight majority, 53 percent, support significantly expanding Trump's flagship border wall policy.
Trump has said that the border is "wide open" for criminal gangs and pledged to "wage war" on the cartels. He has also proposed sending troops into Mexico and invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target and deport migrants involved with crime syndicates.
Newsweek has contacted the Trump-Vance transition team for comment via email outside of normal working hours.
Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama told Newsweek: "During President Trump's first term, we had the most secure border in history. Under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, 10 million-plus illegals have invaded our country, including criminals, murderers, gang members and drug dealers."
Trump declares war on cartels
The president-elect said notorious crime syndicates and drug kingpins will "never sleep soundly" again once he launches his plans to tackle the issue.
"The drug cartels are waging war on America—and it's now time for America to wage war on the cartels," Trump said in a statement in 2023. "The drug cartels and their allies in the Biden administration have the blood of countless millions on their hands. Millions and millions of families and people are being destroyed. When I am back in the White House, the drug kingpins and vicious traffickers will never sleep soundly again."
"We will show no mercy on the cartels," Trump said in a video statement released after he defeated Harris.
'Border is wide open for cartels'
Trump has repeatedly said the U.S.-Mexico border is "wide open" for cartels to flood the country with illegal narcotics.
He and other Republicans frequently argue that the border's current state enables cartels to transport vast amounts of illegal drugs, especially fentanyl, into the United States. They contend that insufficient border security and enforcement have created vulnerabilities that cartels exploit to smuggle drugs and people.
The viewpoint often fuels calls for stricter immigration policies and increased border security measures, such as deploying National Guard units, strengthening physical barriers, and increasing surveillance and enforcement personnel to mitigate cartel influence and drug trafficking across the border.
Trump wants to send troops into Mexico
Trump said he would "make appropriate use of Special Forces, cyber warfare and other overt and covert actions to inflict maximum damage on cartel leadership, infrastructure and operations."
This aggressive approach aligns with South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham's push to classify Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations, which would grant the president authority to act militarily against them.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr and other proponents argue that Mexico's current efforts are insufficient, leading some Republicans to argue that direct U.S. intervention could be necessary to control the escalating fentanyl crisis affecting the U.S. and Mexico.
Speaking to supporters in Iowa in September 2023, Trump said, "Upon my inauguration, I will immediately terminate every open borders policy of the Biden administration.
"I'll make clear that we must use any and all resources needed to stop the invasion, including moving thousands of troops currently stationed overseas," Trump said at a rally in Dubuque.
Mass deportations
Mass deportation is a core component of the GOP's platform, with Trump promising that millions of migrants in the country illegally would be removed from the country starting on "Day 1" of his presidency to tackle crime.
"I make this pledge and vow to you, November 5, 2024, will be liberation day in America," Trump told supporters on October 11 as he branded the mass-deportation program Operation Aurora after the Colorado city that has faced ongoing issues with the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
However, Trump's proposed mass deportation plan could lead to a return of widespread family separations, with an estimated one in three Latinos at risk of being targeted, according to an immigration advocacy group.
FWD.us said that nearly 20 million people could be directly affected by the policy through deportation or separation from immediate family members.
Alien Enemies Act of 1798
Trump has promised to carry out the "largest mass deportation plan in history" under the Alien Enemies Act to expedite the removal of known gang or cartel members.
He has vowed to deploy the National Guard to assist with deportations amid questions on the legal limits on military involvement in domestic law enforcement.
The Alien Enemies Act is part of a set of laws enacted by the Congress in 1798. The act empowers the U.S. government, specifically the president, to detain, deport or restrict the movements of nationals from foreign nations deemed hostile to the United States during times of war.
"I will invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target and dismantle every migrant criminal network operating on American soil," Trump said at a rally on November 4.
Trump's strategy involves reinstating his past border policies, securing full military support to prevent cartel trafficking, including a naval embargo, and using Special Forces and cyber warfare to target cartels. He advocates designating cartels as terrorist organizations, severing their global financial access. Trump also plans to request that Congress impose the death penalty for drug traffickers.
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