Trump has also said he would invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, to expel suspected members of drug cartels without due process. That archaic law allows for summary deportation of people from countries with which the U.S. is at war, that have invaded the United States, or have committed “predatory incursions.”

The promise of mass deportations was central to Trump’s campaign and helped propel him to victory on Nov. 5. In one of his first interviews post-election, Trump told NBC News “there is no choice" but to forcibly expel millions of people living in the U.S. without documentation.

President-elect Donald Trump said his plan to execute mass deportations of immigrants in the U.S. illegally will involve a national emergency declaration and the military.