SOFREP Daily: Trump Targets Border Crisis with Executive Orders, Russia Downs 55 Ukrainian Drones Overnight, Colombian President Vows Offensive Against ELN Rebels

Good morning! It’s Tuesday, January 21, 2025, and we’re back with your daily briefing on defense and global affairs. Here’s what you need to know.

Trump Targets Border Crisis with Executive Orders

The 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump, wasted no time after his inauguration Monday, announcing sweeping executive orders to reshape US immigration and citizenship policies.

Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border, vowing to halt illegal entry and deport millions of undocumented immigrants.

Among his controversial plans are ending birthright citizenship—a practice enshrined in the 14th Amendment—and reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which forces asylum seekers to wait outside the US for their applications to be processed.

The administration also shut down Customs and Border Protection (CBP) One, a mobile application under the Biden administration to schedule border appointments, canceling 30,000 appointments in the process.

Trump aims to use the death penalty for non-citizens who commit capital crimes, citing national security and public safety concerns.

Critics argue these moves will face immediate court challenges, particularly the attempt to end birthright citizenship, which legal experts say is protected by the Constitution.

Immigration advocates have labeled the approach reckless, while Trump’s supporters see it as decisive action on border security. Whether these sweeping changes survive the courts remains to be seen.

Trump Puts Cuba Back on Terrorism List, Reverses Biden Deal

Just hours after taking office, President Trump reversed Biden’s move to take Cuba off the US state sponsors of terrorism list.

This decision, initially made by Biden as part of a prisoner release deal, was swiftly rolled back by Trump, signaling a return to his hardline stance on Cuba.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel criticized the move as a continuation of America’s “economic war” against the island.

Presidente Trump, en acto de arrogancia y desprecio por la verdad, acaba de restablecer la fraudulenta designación de Cuba como estado patrocinador del terrorismo. No sorprende. Su objetivo es seguir fortaleciendo la cruel guerra económica contra Cuba con fines de dominación.

— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) January 21, 2025

New Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a vocal opponent of Cuba’s government, supported the reversal, citing Cuba’s ties to groups like Colombia’s ELN (National Liberation Army) and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), as well as its relationships with Hamas and Hezbollah.

Trump’s decision keeps Cuba alongside Iran, North Korea, and Syria on the terrorism blacklist.

The White House offered no comment on whether this reversal would impact prisoners already freed as part of Biden’s earlier arrangement.

Trump Pardons January 6 Capitol Rioters

Among the bold moves made by newly inaugurated US President Trump just hours into his second term was the pardoning of approximately 1,500 supporters convicted for their involvement in the January 6 Capitol attack.

This includes 14 leaders from far-right groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, whose convictions remain but who were released early.

The decision is already sparking backlash from lawmakers, police, and others affected by the violence that left 140 officers injured and four people dead.

As mentioned, Trump has rolled out executive orders to curb immigration, as well as scaling back on environmental rules and reverse diversity initiatives.

While he hasn’t yet imposed promised tariffs on Canada and Mexico, his hint at 25 percent duties by February 1 rattled global markets, weakening the Mexican peso and Canadian dollar while sending stocks into a tailspin.

Putin Welcomes Trump Talks on Ukraine Peace Deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his willingness to engage in talks with Donald Trump’s incoming administration to address the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

Putin emphasized in televised remarks on Monday that any resolution should aim for “lasting peace” rather than a temporary ceasefire, while protecting the interests of all parties involved—particularly Russia.

Trump has previously promised to prioritize resolving the nearly three-year war, stating he plans to speak with both Moscow and Kyiv to avoid escalation into a “World War III.”

Putin welcomed Trump’s commitment to de-escalation and congratulated him on his inauguration.

Russia Downs 55 Drones, Oil Depot Fire Erupts in Voronezh

Russia claimed Tuesday it shot down 55 Ukrainian drones overnight across six regions, with debris from one drone sparking a fire at an oil depot in Voronezh.

This marks the second blaze at the site in less than a week, although no injuries were reported.

Emergency crews are working to contain the fire and protect nearby residents.

Both sides have ramped up attacks recently, vying for control in the ongoing conflict as Trump takes office. During his campaign, Trump vowed to cut military aid to Ukraine and push for a quick resolution to the war.

NEW | Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 20, 2025: Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on January 20 that Russian forces suffered more than 434,000 casualties in 2024 — 150,000 of which were personnel killed in action. 1/6 pic.twitter.com/O4LWlEspH9

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) January 21, 2025

Colombian President Declares Crisis in Northeast Colombia, Vows Offensive Against ELN Rebels

Colombian President Gustavo Petro plans to declare a state of emergency, known as “internal commotion,” in response to a surge in guerrilla violence in the northeast that has killed dozens and displaced over 18,000 people.

This move will allow the government to act decisively without congressional approval for three months, though it must adhere to constitutional limits.

Petro also announced a military offensive against the ELN, accusing the group of turning into a drug cartel and carrying out atrocities similar to those of Pablo Escobar.

Lo sucedido en el Catatumbo no es sino una demostración más, del tránsito de las guerrillas insurgentes hacia las organizaciones narcoarmadas.

La acción de masacre cometida por el ELN con fuerzas traídas desde Arauca hasta el Catatumbo calca perfectamente el accionar de los…

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) January 20, 2025

The ELN’s attacks, including the targeting of civilians and rival groups in the coca-producing Catatumbo region, have escalated tensions and stalled peace talks that began in 2022.

The violence has caused a humanitarian crisis, with thousands fleeing to nearby cities like Tibu and Cúcuta.

Petro’s attempts to negotiate peace have struggled against ongoing violence, deep divisions within rebel groups, and the lingering effects of Colombia’s 2016 peace deal, which left a power vacuum in rural areas.

Indian Forces Kill 14 Maoists, Including Top Commander

Indian security forces scored a major victory against Maoist rebels on Tuesday, killing 14 insurgents, including Jairam, a top commander with a $115,000 bounty on his head.

This comes just days after the killing of 12 rebels in Chhattisgarh, the heartland of the decades-long insurgency.

Interior Minister Amit Shah praised the operation, calling it a “mighty blow to Naxalism,” and reiterated his goal of eradicating the rebellion by March 2026.

Another mighty blow to Naxalism. Our security forces achieved major success towards building a Naxal-free Bharat. The CRPF, SoG Odisha, and Chhattisgarh Police neutralised 14 Naxalites in a joint operation along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border. With our resolve for a Naxal-free…

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 21, 2025

The Maoists, inspired by Mao Zedong, have fought for the rights of marginalized communities in resource-rich regions since 1967.

Despite government crackdowns and the deployment of tens of thousands of troops in the “Red Corridor,” the insurgency has claimed over 10,000 lives.

Recent operations suggest that the government is intensifying its efforts to bring the conflict to an end, though sporadic attacks by the rebels, such as a recent roadside bombing that killed nine troops, highlight the challenges ahead.

Sources: News Agencies, Reuters