United States | The president’s phoney war

Donald Trump cries “invasion” to justify an immigration crackdown

His first immigration executive orders range from benign to belligerent

Migrants from Mexico and Guatemala are apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers after crossing a section of border wall into the U.S.
Photograph: Getty Images
|CHICAGO and LOS ANGELES 

AN “INVASION”. On the campaign trail, that’s how Donald Trump described the millions of migrant encounters at the southern border during Joe Biden’s presidency. During his inaugural address the 45th, and now 47th, president echoed the same sentiment, but this time with a note of triumphalism. “For American citizens, January 20th 2025 is Liberation Day,” he crowed.

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