By Amy Cooter
President-elect Donald Trump has reaffirmed that once he takes office he plans to declare a national emergency and use the military on American streets to accomplish his promises to round up and deport millions of undocumented migrants.
Many experts’ concerns about this program have included the facts that immigrants contribute enormous value to the U.S. economy and mass deportation would hurt food production, housing construction and other crucial industries. Other scholars have analyzed how deportation traumatizes families.
I have an additional concern about a renewed focus on deportation as someone who has studied U.S. domestic militias for more than 15 years: Some militia units may see it as their duty to assist with such efforts. In fact, local police may even deputize certain militias to help them deport immigrants.
Anti-government, but supporting national defense
Militias are generally wary of the government. They’ve even been known to use violence against politicians and other government representatives, including police. I have found in my research that the militias’ disdain for the federal government is especially strong because they believe it is too big and corrupt and takes too much of their income through taxation.
But militia members’ negative beliefs about immigration and self-declared mission to protect the country could lead them to join a national mass-deportation effort.
My research finds that militia members generally believe the falsehoods that undocumented migrants are a threat to public safety.
For some, my research finds, this perception is rooted in xenophobia and racism. Other militia members misunderstand what is required to obtain U.S. citizenship: They believe that anyone who enters the country illegally is, by definition, a criminal and has therefore already proven their intention to not follow the laws and generally be a good American. This is not true, because migrants may seek asylum regardless of their immigration status for up to a year after entering the country.
Members with both sets of motives believe that undocumented migrants are taking jobs away from more deserving citizens and are generally receiving unearned benefits from being in the country. Trump’s promises to crack down on immigration appeal to militia members of both types.
AP Photo/Lisa Marie Pane
Militia members also believe that one of the few legitimate functions of the federal government as outlined by the Constitution is national defense. In that sense, those who believe migrants are an urgent threat could see the military’s involvement in a mass-deportation operation as consistent with a duty to defend the nation.
Most scholars agree that even if it were technically legal, domestic deployment of the military would be an alarming threat to democracy.
Active participation
Some militia units in border states have been engaged in deportation efforts for a long time. They typically patrol the border, sometimes detain migrants and regularly call the U.S. Border Patrol to report their findings.
Border Patrol agents have historically expressed skepticism and concerns about militia involvement with border monitoring due to the unverifiable skills and motives of civilian support.
Some state, county and local police also do immigration enforcement, and in recent years they have seemed to become more open to civilian assistance.
Some local police agencies, particularly sheriffs, are already asking for civilian assistance managing perceived problems with migrants. Others have hosted anti-immigration events with militias who patrol the border under an effective, if not formal, deputization of their actions.
Paul Ratje/AFP via Getty Images
Militias may also be called on directly. In the past, Trump has directly addressed militias. The most cited example is his instruction in a Sept. 29, 2020, presidential debate, directing the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by.” People had similar interpretations of his comments in advance of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.
But I have long believed these appeals started much earlier. In 2018 Trump pardoned the men who inspired the Bundy family occupation and standoff at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. I believe that was an early attempt to garner support from people in militia circles.
A volatile combination
The military has already been getting involved in immigration enforcement in unprecedented ways. In early 2024, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott claimed the U.S. Border Patrol was not protecting his state from an “invasion” from would-be immigrants. He deployed his state’s National Guard to an area of the border, blocking the Border Patrol from working in that section. That blockade continues.
In a second term, Trump has little incentive to restrain his rhetoric or his actions. The Supreme Court has ruled that presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken while in office. Even if he does not directly appeal to private citizens to control the border or detain people whom they believe to be undocumented migrants, his official presence and hard-line stance on immigration may be enough to provide legitimacy to vigilante action.
AP Photo/Eric Gay
In November 2024, two militia members were convicted of a variety of federal offenses, including conspiracy to murder federal agents, for a plot to kill Border Patrol agents whom the men believed were failing to adequately protect the border from crossing migrants.
Not all militia members support mass deportation, especially if it involves unconstitutionally deploying military forces on U.S. soil. That’s clear from my research.
“The military is the military, and law enforcement is law enforcement,” one militia member replied when I asked some of my long-term contacts for their perspectives on Trump’s declaration to use the military. “They are separate for a reason.”
This man believes undocumented migrants pose dangers – but thinks shifting the military’s role would be even more harmful. Not all militia members are so circumspect.
Amy Cooter is Director of Research, Academic Development, and Innovation at the Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism at Middlebury College.
Laurel says
Soon, President-elect Chaos will take office. Chaos in the streets. Chaos in the stock market. Chaos amongst our allies. Chaos in religion. Chaos in liberty. Chaos in freedom. Chaos in speech reduction. Chaos in free press. Chaos in trade. Chaos in the world.
“REBECCA COLLARD: When German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced last week that he was dissolving Parliament and clearing the way for early elections, he warned of what he called external influences endangering Germany’s democracy. He explicitly mentioned the social media platform X, where Musk had earlier posted his support for the AfD, a party being monitored by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency for potential right-wing extremism. The AfD promises to restrict immigration. Its platform says it plans to legally return foreigners to their home countries.” – NPR
What in the hell Musk doing, involving himself in German politics? What in the hell is Musk doing, involving himself in American politics? Do Trump, and his sidekick Musk think they are going to take over the world?
Do you see any similarities here, people?
Jake from state farm says
OMG.. stop with the dramatics. The liberals lost… get over it. It is not the end of Democracy.
Deborah Coffey says
Yes, it is, Jake…for the moment. But, the Resistance will win democracy back and America will be saved from Donald J. Trump and his entire cabal.
Ed P says
Laurel,
A dash of hysteria mixed with a pinch of hyperbole, and maybe a drop of truth.
Don’t you support free speech?
Could it be political petulance or full blown TDS?
Deborah Coffey says
Open your eyes, Ed, because when it’s too late it will be too late for YOU, too. Donald Trump is Lucifer and his cabal are all demons. Be sure to wear your crucifix at all times.
Matt says
The time is way past due for someone to enforce our laws.
This problem exists for all of us & is a leading priority.
enforcing immigration laws has nothing to do with racism, we all have the right to secure sovereign borders, without them we are not a country.
I am not allowed to break into your house, sleep on your couch, eat your food etc. the same way that these criminals are not allowed to break into our country.
BillC says
The law doesn’t do what’s right, it does what’s legal. It depends on who is in power and making the laws. Ever think about why all the American oligarchs are visiting Trump and making million dollar contributions to his inaugural festivities? Could it be more tax benefits for billionaires and corporations and sticking it to the middle class and the poor and powerless to shoulder the burden?
“I am not allowed to break into your house, sleep on your couch, eat your food etc.” Ahhh, yeah, OK.
Matthew says
Immigration laws & requirements haven’t changed in a long time, NO they’re not racist. YES they’re legal & what’s right.
Try to stay focused on the subject rather than trying to change it because you have no valid point.
Laurel says
Matthew: What BillC said was correct. The far right advocates are doing everything in their power to keep you focused on immigration by over demonizing immigrants, hoping you won’t ask about healthcare, or where are the tax cuts for the middle class.
jake says
Do you actually think that he is going to do something about it ? He’s still waiting for the check and I’m still waiting for that beautiful trump care..
Sherry says
@matt. . . please consider the possibility that if Congress would only pass laws that created an equitable way for people from other countries to immigrate “legally” into the US, we would have a vetted flow of hard working, law abiding people who would benefit us all. Oh wait, that’s right. . . the House of Representatives had a bill that would have helped in that legal effort but trump STOPPED it from passing because he did not want a “Win” while President Biden was in office.
It will be interesting to watch the consumer price of American grown fruits and vegetables/roofing/road construction/gardening, etc. once much of that cheap labor is gone. I’m wondering just how many Americans of the next generations will put down their phones and step up to do all that manual labor. . . and, at what cost? How about you matt, are you ready to take up the slack?
Matt says
There is nothing about the current immigration laws that is NOT “equitable”.
The current system is working just fine, this is evidenced by the numerous people who have used it recently, go ahead and look up the numbers.
As for the Biden Admin. Bill you mention, it was FULL of pork & amendments that had noting to do with immigration, similar to the recent budget bill that was also recently shot down , as it should have been just like the piece of legislation that you are referring to. it was not passed because it was BAD LEGISLATION which was full of pork & no other reason, your making an assumption about what you “feel” Trump was thinking, I say an incorrect assumption.
As for your assumptions on the economic impacts of removing all the illegal aliens from a nation , all of what you mention is shot term. YES we will have an adjustment period, but this is a change that MUST happen so that we as a notion are able to get back to “normal” where we used to be prior to this invasion.
In the long run we must have secure sovereign borders.
Justbob says
As they say, men with their big guns have manhood compensation problems.
Ed P says
Wasn’t Freud obsessed with penises?
Never realized guns were phallic symbols until your post.
Good to know, the bigger the gun…..
One question, what about the 20% of the women (33,600,000) in this country that own guns?
Nancy N. says
In my experience, the women I know that own guns usually own them for protection from men. So, your point?
Sherry says
Thank you Nancy N! What an excellent point! Welcome to 2025!
Sherry says
trump is an adjudicated “Insurrectionist”, and therefore “should” be disqualified from taking the oath of office. However, our political system is now so corrupt, our constitution will be completely ignored.
Here is the insurrection clause from the 14th amendment:
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Here is the adjudicated decision that trump committed insurrection from the Colorado Supreme Court:
The Colorado Supreme Court Decision
The Colorado district court had found that Trump had taken part in an insurrection based on his actions, but Trump was not subject to the Disqualification Clause since the presidency was not an “office . . . under the United States” nor was the president “an officer of the United States” who had “previously taken an oath . . . to support the Constitution of the United States.”
The Colorado Supreme Court’s 4-3 decision reversed the district court’s ruling. “Section Three encompasses the office of the presidency and someone who has taken an oath as president. On this point, the district court committed reversible error,” said the majority’s per curiam opinion. The Colorado Supreme Court also said Congress did not need to enact legislation to put the Disqualification Clause into effect, and that the district court correctly concluded the events of January 6 were an insurrection that Trump “engaged” in through actions.
Ed P says
Sherry,
There was no insurrection.
As wrong as the attack or riot on the Capitol was, even the FBI states that it was not an insurrection.
No one was adjudicated for insurrection, charged or convicted of that crime. Not even Trump. Your claim is false.
Colorado over stepped the boundary in trying to keep Trump off the presidential ballot. Their interpretation was over turned so that they could not alter a national election by excluding the Republican nominee.
Is the system only corrupt when you don’t agree with it?
Matt says
You are correct Sherry in that there is corruption in our government.
The only “insurrection” was back in 2020 when the fraudulent election results were certified. The J-6 dust up was an inside job that could not have happened without Pelosi & McConnell participating/orchestrating, they control the capitol police, who ushered the visitors in that day, the entire event was a cover to allow the corrupt establishment to push their stand in, Joe Biden, across the finish line & certify the election. Unfortunately Trump & his supporters at the rally/speech walked right into the trap that was set for them.
The slew of charges against Trump since have all been dropped one way or another due to the FACT that these charges never had any merit to them, just like the fabricated Russia collusion B/S. A conviction in a kangaroo court is no conviction at all.
Laurel says
Okay Ed P, Jimboxyz, Dennis R, explain Matt for me.
Laurel says
Trump should be convicted of treason. Yet, he is elected President of the United States. Both Independent me, and my Republican husband, still cannot believe that a man so foul will represent us in the world.
Land of no turn signals says says
Oh,boo hoo Trumps in charge and he is so terrible,he’s this he’s that, piece of crap and that shows how bad the Harris/Waltz card was by him winning by a landslide.Is a huge majority of the country wrong?I think not.All the snow flakes out in woke land just get use to it.
Laurel says
And there is that razor thin landslide.
Dennis C Rathsam says
Listening to you ” JACKASSES” with the TRUMP SYNDROME…. Fustration, & hatered consume your soul! GLORY, GLORY, HALLALUA!!! Let the deportation begin…. America voted…. Get over it folks Its 4 years of heartbreak for you, peace, joy prosperity for us. Did you see, NBC finnally told the truth about how bad Biden,s border policy compared to TRUMPS. HMMMMM After the ellections!!!! How proud of you of party, the cover ups… the lies… Hoping you wont see the incompitant leader of the free world. Democrats played you for fools, and fools you remain!