Soon after his inauguration, US President Donald Trump declared illegal immigration at the border a national emergency and ordered its prevention, the BBC reported on Tuesday.
He signed a flurry of executive orders and decrees aimed at cracking down on immigration. Trump swiftly made moves on his promises to tighten US-Mexico border controls.
In his inaugural address, Trump vowed that “all illegal entry would be halted” and that millions of “criminal aliens” deported.
Trump had previously promised that the “destructive” policies of the Biden White House would be gone “within five minutes”.
Hours earlier, thousands of would-be migrants had their immigration appointments cancelled after the new administration scrapped an app used to book appearances at ports of entry at the border.
He also signed an order declaring Mexican drug cartels terrorist organisations.
At a previous event at Washington’s Capital One Arena, Trump formally revoked nearly 80 executive actions – which he described as radical – from the Biden administration.
“I have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions,” he said in his inaugural speech earlier in the day.
Administration officials said the president would direct the Department of Defense to “seal the border” and devote additional resources and personnel, including counter-drone capabilities.
sa/mud
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