Trump acts decisively on illegal immigration

OPINION:

After giving one of the most revolutionary inaugural addresses in American history, President Trump has acted decisively to prove he is serious about keeping his promises.

Reversing illegal immigration and controlling the border were among the biggest issues in the 2024 election. Only the economy, inflation and affordability rivaled them.

The American people strongly agree with Mr. Trump’s focus.

At America’s New Majority Project, we have closely studied public opinion on immigration issues. The public sentiment is overwhelming.

Americans agree we must control the border first. In fact, 74% say the U.S. must first focus on securing its borders, fixing immigration laws and ending illegal immigration before making decisions about what to do about illegal immigrants already in the country (18% disagree).

Furthermore, 70% support declaring a state of emergency to allow the deployment of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Guard personnel to border communities (19% oppose).

A full 68% support designating drug cartels as terrorist groups (22% oppose).

Mr. Trump has done all these things in his first four days in office.

The Biden-Harris administration allowed a ridiculously wide interpretation of asylum-seeking laws to make the borders more open. Yet, 75% of Americans support requiring asylum-seekers to enter the U.S. through legal methods (17% disagree).

Finally, the concern about illegal immigration is so great that 83% support requiring local law enforcement to check the status of suspects arrested for crimes with immigration authorities — and detain them for deportation if they are here illegally (11% oppose).

This strong support indicates why so many Democrats joined Republicans to pass the Laken Riley Act. It must infuriate the media and Mr. Trump’s opponents that the first law enacted under his administration was bipartisan.

As Maya C. Miller wrote for The New York Times of the Laken Riley Act: “The final vote, 263 to 156, capped the opening salvo in a broader Trump-era crackdown on immigration and undocumented migrants that the president has promised, Republicans have championed, and a small but increasing group of Democrats has begun to embrace. Forty-six House Democrats joined all Republicans in backing it, a sign of the growing cross-party consensus around taking a harder line against those who enter the country illegally.”

On Wednesday, Mr. Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency at the southern border.

The measure directed military and National Guard forces to deploy to the southern border to assist in its security and Department of Homeland Security officials to finish the wall, which was greatly expanded under Mr. Trump’s first term.

On the same day, the president signed an order instructing the DHS, the Justice Department and the State Department “to take all necessary action to immediately repel, repatriate, and remove illegal aliens across the southern border of the United States.”

This effort should have a dramatic effect on those trying to get into the country illegally — or those attempting to smuggle people, drugs and weapons over the border. Importantly, this will return the asylum process to its historic, orderly state.

In the first four days of his administration, Mr. Trump has issued an impressive number of other executive orders.

In addition to hardening the border and deporting hundreds of criminal illegal aliens, he has made a strong push to end birthright citizenship for children born to women in the country illegally or temporarily — unless their fathers have legal permanent residence.

This will ultimately become a serious, history-making decision for the Supreme Court. The justices will have to determine the ultimate meaning, intent, and bounds of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

To list a few more, Mr. Trump also signed orders:

• Directing federal agencies to identify nations that fail to provide sufficient information about their citizens who come to America — and bar such nationals from entry going forward.

• Halting refugee admissions and so-called parole programs pending evaluations and changes to U.S. policy.

• Withholding federal funds from cities and jurisdictions that don’t comply with U.S. immigration laws.

• Barring illegal immigrants from receiving public benefits.

• Reinstating his “Remain in Mexico” policy.

• Empowering more federal law enforcement agents to enforce immigration laws.

• Implementing a host of other measures.

Mr. Trump has already made enormous steps toward reversing illegal immigration and fixing the broken border.

His vigor and energy are truly historic, and there is more to come.

• For more commentary from Newt Gingrich, visit Gingrich360.com. Also, subscribe to the “Newt’s World” podcast.