Trump famously called illegal border crossings “an invasion” in 2016, and the liberal media went up in arms at his abuse of the term. Here we examine a real invasion definition. And put it to the test: Was Trump right in using the term, or was the media right in calling him out on it?
Technically and topically, he is using the term in order to ease his invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which grants the President the authority to detain and deport aliens deemed enemies — during wartime. The operating legal theory for the actions (mass deportations to a foreign prison) is that this “invasion” by gang / cartel members constitutes an actual war being waged.
I do not think that this characterization — while extreme — is too far from the mark.
I was first keyed into this debate — and first lost faith in NPR, which I had regularly listened to up until that day — when the smarty-smart hosts of NPR’s Morning Edition (Steve Inskeep, I believe) did a segment where they purportedly read the invasion definition straight from the dictionary… and stated ever-so-confidently that in order to technically qualify as an “invasion” — by definition — that the application of military force was a pre-requisite.
As it was, at that time I was in solitary confinement in Victorville USP, and my only two books were a Dictionary and a Bible. And as such, I had read that dictionary (and taken copious notes) (and memorized parts of it) many times over. I knew my words; it was completely possible that my vocabulary and command of the English language were at their peak during that time.
And so, hearing that pompous self-righteous holier-than-thou host, I thought: “that does not square with my memory. let me look it up.” And I did. And realised that NPR was flexing both their intellectual and liberal muscle to… to deceive people. Intentionally. With an agenda. A far left liberal political agenda. This angered me greatly.
The libs have always been elitists… but part of their appeal, at least on paper, was that they were honest elitists. They could cling to their integrity as they attacked the right for being a bunch of opportunist liars. But in this case, they were violating their integrity — trashing their credit, and doing it in such a way as to make their listeners feel dumb about it. and they were wrong.
So I’m penning this post to set the record straight.
First, let’s look at the actual invasion definition — as found in the dictionary — a favorite sport of liberals, intellectuals, and debate clubs across America.
Invasion Definition
ChatGPT: what is the invasion definition, from the dictionary?
Here are six common definitions of invasion, adapted from sources like Merriam-Webster, Oxford, and Cambridge:
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An act of entering a place by force, especially with intent to occupy or control it.
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An unwelcome or harmful intrusion into a place or situation, such as privacy or personal space.
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The incoming or spread of something harmful or unwanted, such as disease, weeds, or pests.
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The beginning of an aggressive military campaign, typically involving armed forces crossing borders.
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Entry of pathogens or foreign organisms into the body, especially when leading to infection or disease.
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A large-scale arrival or influx of people or things, often overwhelming the existing system or capacity (e.g., “tourist invasion”).
So, clearly: using the word invasion does not require the presence or action of any military. at all. That’s not even in the cards until entry 4.
Which brings us to our second question, a quick clarification on:
how many invaders does it take to qualify as an invasion?
ChatGPT: How many people (cells, troops, entities) does it require to technically qualify as an invasion?
There is no fixed number that universally defines the threshold for an “invasion” — context matters:
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Military invasion: Even a small unit (e.g. a squad of 10–12 soldiers) breaching a border with hostile intent can be labeled an invasion, especially if it violates sovereignty. However, conventionally, it implies dozens to thousands of troops supported by logistics, vehicles, or air/sea power.
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Biological invasion: A single bacterium or virus entering the body can technically be called an invasion, if it begins reproducing or disrupting tissue.
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Ecological invasion: A small number of non-native species introduced into an environment (e.g., 1–10 individuals) can qualify if they establish and spread.
Bottom line:
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In legal or military terms, intent and effect usually matter more than scale.
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But public perception and response scale with magnitude—a solo spy is a breach, a battalion is an invasion.
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