Donald Trump To Declare Martial Law Across US On April 20? Here's What We Know

The speculations come even as a large section of the US population are convinced that Trump will invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 and impose martial law next Sunday.

File photo of US President Donald Trump.

Source : x/@WhiteHouse

As Donald Trump is set to complete three months in the White House, speculations are rife that the Republican President may declare martial law in the US on April 20.

The speculations come even as a large section of the US population are convinced that Trump will invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 and impose martial law next Sunday.

The rumours stem from the Presidential orders that Trump issued on January 20, when he was sworn into the White House. 

After assuming office following the oath-taking ceremony, Trump had declared a 'national emergency' along the southern border with Mexico, saying "America’s sovereignty is under attack."

The order had a rider to it- that President Donald Trump might "invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807" and possibly deploy the military on US soil on April 20, ninety days after the executive order was signed.

"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 clause in the Trump's executive order read on January 20. The 90-day deadline will be on April 20. 

The rumours come amid the US Homeland Security's crackdowns on and deportations of illegal immigrants, including sending alleged gang members to a detention facility in El Salvador. 

On Sunday, when asked about El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele's offer to take American prisoners, Trump replied, "I love it."

What is The Insurrection Act Of 1807?

The Insurrection Act of 1807 gives the US President the authority to deploy the militia or armed forces in the country.

Though rarely used, the emergency measures allow the President to use forces against the Americans to suppress conspiracy or an uprising.

"Whenever there is an insurrections in any State against its government, the President may, upon the request of its legislature or of its governor if the legislature cannot be convened, call into Federal service such of the militia of the other States, in the number requested by that State, and use such of the armed forces, as he considers necessary to suppress the insurrection," the Article reads.

"The President, by using the militia or the armed forces, or both, ... shall take such measures as he considers necessary to suppress, in a state, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy," it added.

However, under current law, the President has no authority to declare martial law, the USA today quoted the Brennan Center for Justice as saying.

However, the US Department of Justice rules that the martial law may be declared by proclamation of the president or a state governor.