President Donald Trump plans to declare a “national emergency” at the US-Mexico border as part of a broader first-day flurry of executive orders aimed at quickly reversing the Joe Biden administration’s policies.
Trump is expected to sign as many as 100 executive orders by the end of the day, touching on issues ranging from immigration and energy to the economy and gender issues.
As part of his plans, Trump will also order construction on the border wall to be resumed and that some criminal organisations be officially designated as foreign terrorists.
While campaigning, Trump vowed to shut down what he termed the “open-border” policies of Joe Biden.
In a series of calls with reporters on Monday morning, incoming Trump administration officials outlined dozens of executive orders the president-elect planned to take when he officially takes office, including 10 focused on what one official described as “common sense immigration policy”.
Officials said that Trump plans to end birthright citizenship, meaning that the children of undocumented migrants living in the US will no longer automatically be considered US citizens.
Birthright citizenship, however, is enshrined in the US constitution and would require a two-thirds vote in both chambers of Congress to change. The official provided no further detail on how Trump plans to accomplish this.
As part of the national emergency designation at the border, Trump will also direct the Department of Defense to “seal the border” and surge additional resources and personnel, including counter-drone capabilities.
Additionally, the Trump administration plans to reinstate the controversial “Remain in Mexico” policy that requires that migrants wait for their asylum proceedings on the Mexican side of the border.
Incoming Trump officials also promised the beginning of what they described as an “all-of-government approach” to tackle inflation, as well as executive orders to boost US energy production and address the high costs of energy for consumers.
Officials confirmed, however, that no new tariffs would be announced on Inauguration Day, despite being a central part of the incoming president’s economic vision.
Trump had previously said he would impose new tariffs on goods entering the US from Canada, Mexico and China on his first day in office.
Incoming officials also said that Trump plans to “end DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion” inside the government, and make it official policy that the US recognises two sexes – male and female.
The incoming White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, tweeted that Trump would also move to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America”.
The tallest mountain in North America, Denali, will also again be called Mount McKinley – its name until it was changed by President Barack Obama in 2015.
Trump officially became president at noon local time (1700 GMT) at the US Capitol. He was expected to begin signing orders shortly thereafter.
Following his swearing-in, Trump will deliver an inaugural address, followed by a luncheon, parade and a series of inaugural balls in the evening.
About 20,000 people are expected at the parade, which was moved inside to the Capital One Arena over the weekend due to concerns over frigid temperatures that swept across Washington DC.
The crowd is just a small fraction of the approximately 220,000 tickets guests were expected to watch the event from the grounds of the US Capitol.
On Monday morning, a desk had been set up in the centre of the arena – which some have speculated could be used to sign executive orders in front of his supporters.
