President Trump's executive orders on immigration, southern border poised for legal challenges

Just moments after being sworn in, President Donald Trump signaled he's ready to issue a flurry of executive orders and directives, including a declaration of emergency on the southern border.

The 47th president is making good on his promises of a sweeping border crackdown and mass deportation push.

The border was a big theme of President Trump's inauguration speech on Monday. Some of the orders are more ceremonial, while others will face challenges in court. 

President Trump's Border Plan

What we know:

Mr. Trump has outlined his plan to fix the problems at the border. 

"First, I will declare a national emergency at our southern border," he said.

On his first day in office, Trump will sign nearly a dozen executive orders addressing illegal immigration. 

"I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country," he said.

RELATED: Trump to take more than 200 executive actions on day one

Trump is also directing Homeland Security and the Department of Defense to finish installing sections of the border wall. 

While the president promised mass deportation on the campaign trail, it did not come up in detail during his Monday speech. 

Trump did speak on deporting criminals. Reports say raids could begin as early as Tuesday.

"All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the place they came," he told the inauguration crowd. "We will reinstate my Remain in Mexico policy."

The president said he’ll also designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. 

"As commander in chief, I have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions," he said. "And that is what we are going to do."

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Another campaign theme was ending birthright citizenship, but it did not come up in his speech. 

Legal scholars say any action will require an amendment to the constitution. 

If President Trump were to issue an order, it would quickly be met with legal challenges. 

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during inauguration ceremonies in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United

What they're saying:

Using the military at the border is not illegal, but immigration attorney Raed Gonzalez tells FOX 4 the military is limited in what it can do. 

"They can go to the border, but they cannot touch anybody. They cannot arrest anybody," he claimed. "They can be there and transport illegals and help with the process. They cannot really interact with them unless it's a time of war."

The president mentioned the deportation of criminals, a less controversial process. But Gonzalez says it’s come with some hurdles in recent years.

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What executive orders Trump said he'd sign on Day 1

President-elect Donald Trump is preparing more than 200 executive orders starting Day One of the new White House.

"There's many of those criminals that we cannot deport because their home country does not want to accept them at this time. I believe that those are going to be deported by force, and all of those are going to be the primary ones," Gonzalez said. "Homeland has also said that with more probability, those are going to be the first ones."

What's next:

Reports say Mr. Trump will name Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's Border Czar Mike Banks to lead Customs and Border Protection. 

There has not been any official announcement by the Trump team, but senators like John Cornyn celebrated the news. 

The Source: Information in this article comes from the Inauguration Day Ceremony, an interview with an immigration lawyer and past FOX 4 news coverage.

Donald J. TrumpInauguration DayU.S. Border SecurityTexasU.S.Politics