Trump's Martial Law Plan: April 20th Deadline Awakens Fear of Unrest & Uncertainty

One of the first executive orders signed by Donald Trump upon taking office as President of the US on January 20 was to declare a "national emergency" at the southern border. This order included a provision which indicated that President Trump might "invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807" and potentially deploy military forces on U.S. soil by April 20—ninety days after the executive order was issued.

The provision in President Trump's executive order on January 20 elaborated that "Within 90 days of the date of this proclamation, the Secretary of Defence and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit a joint report to the President about the conditions at the southern border of the United States and any recommendations regarding additional actions that may be necessary to obtain complete operational control of the southern border, including whether to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807."

The Insurrection Act of 1807 says that the President of the United States has the authority to allow the military & the U.S. National Guard to be deployed to ensure the enforcement of the law under specific conditions. This act gives the military the power to entirely suppress any kind of rebellion, uprising, or acts of violence or resistance, even if carried out by the  citizens.

The Insurrection Act has the ability to supersede the Posse Comitatus Act, which usually prohibits the military from intervening in civilian law enforcement matters. Moreover, it grants the U.S. President – who serves as the commander-in-chief of the U.S. armed forces – full authority to decide when & where to deploy troops within the USA.

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