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A majority of Americans back President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal to declare a national emergency in response to the border crisis, a new poll shows.
Such a declaration would enable Trump to deploy the military to help secure the border and facilitate the deportation of foreign nationals in the U.S. illegally who have committed violent crimes.
“Declaring a national emergency would allow the president to use military forces to assist in the deportation of illegal immigrants,” Napolitan News Service said in a statement.
“Support for the plan comes from 62% of Hispanic voters, 57% of White voters, and 50% of Black voters,” it continued.
The survey, conducted online by pollster Scott Rasmussen from Nov. 18-19, asked 1,000 registered voters whether they supported or opposed declaring a national emergency to address illegal immigration.
In total, 55 percent of respondents expressed support, with 31 percent strongly in favor and 24 percent somewhat in favor. Support was particularly strong among Hispanic voters (62 percent), followed by 57 percent of white voters and 50 percent of Black voters.
In total, 38 percent of those surveyed opposed the measure, including 12 percent who somewhat opposed it and 26 percent who strongly opposed it. Seven percent were undecided.
The border crisis and Vice President Kamala Harris’ work on the immigration issue were a focal point of the Trump campaign. Trump vowed to close the border and stop the flow of illegal immigration, which rose to record levels during the Biden-Harris administration.
The news comes shortly after Trump announced that Tom Homan will serve as the border leader of his mass deportation efforts.
Homan previously served as the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trump’s first term.
“I am pleased to announce that the Former ICE Director, and stalwart on Border Control, Tom Homan, will be joining the Trump Administration, in charge of our Nation’s Borders (‘The Border Czar’), including, but not limited to, the Southern Border, the Northern Border, all Maritime, and Aviation Security,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“I’ve known Tom for a long time, and there is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders. Likewise, Tom Homan will be in charge of all Deportation of Illegal Aliens back to their Country of Origin. Congratulations to Tom. I have no doubt he will do a fantastic, and long awaited for, job,” he continued.