Make America hate.... again

President signs hundreds of aggressive orders on first day

- CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN

DONALD Trump yesterday set the stage for aggressive, sweeping changes in US policy during what may yet prove to be the most dramatic first days of any presidency.

Within hours of retaking his seat in the Oval Office, the Commander-in-Chief signed close to 200 executive orders.

Fulfilling his campaign promises, he immediately began by tackling immigration, environmental regulations, and even American history.

Ten of the executive orders implemented Trump's longstanding campaign promises of mass immigrant deportations and dismantling birthright citizenship.

Trump's first move was to declare a "national emergency" at the southern border. He authorised a mass expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations designed to send "millions and millions back to where they came from".

And he approved the deployment of troops to the southern border.

The President also empowered the agency to expedite deportations, making it easier to remove criminals or those who have overstayed their visas.

In the hours leading up to him taking office, thousands headed to the border at Tapachula, Mexico, hoping to beat the changes.

But within seconds of being sworn in, he shut down the app that would have allowed them in.

One of his most contentious and long-debated promises has been to end birthright citizenship, the principle enshrined in the 14th Amendment that grants citizenship to any child born on US soil.