WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump looked to quickly implement his agenda, signing several executive orders after being sworn in on Monday. Some of the orders include declaring a national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border, ordering construction on his border wall to resume, and terminating diversity programs in federal agencies.
He signed several orders in front of a packed crowd at Capital One Arena, revoking about 80 executive actions former President Joe Biden signed. He also signed a hiring freeze on federal workers and withdrew the United States from the Paris climate treaty (again).
When he was done, he threw some of the pens he’d used into the crowd.
Trump also plans to sign a directive to end birthright citizenship, transition officials told reporters in a call Monday.
Birthright citizenship has been understood to be required under the 14th Amendment of 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.”
Democrats and some legal groups have promised to challenge in court any attempt by Trump to do away with birthright citizenship.
“With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense. It’s all about common sense,” Trump said in his inaugural address.
Later at the White House, Trump signed several orders relating to immigration. He also restored his “Remain in Mexico” policy from his first administration for those attempting to enter the United States through Mexico, while he also designated cartels and migrant gangs, specifically MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, as foreign terrorist organizations.
When asked if U.S. special forces could be sent into Mexico, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, “Stranger things have happened.”
Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the border would allow the Defense Department to deploy the military and the National Guard to the border.
