The unprecedented changes to immigration under Trump

As soon as he set foot on the White House again, Donald Trump tightened immigration policy through executive orders that have reinforced border security and sped up deportations.

Trump has launched more than 21 immigration-related actions, in addition to other measures with indirect impact. However, his plan is still far from complete, and more changes are expected in the coming months, according to the Migration Policy Institute (MPI).

One of Trump's most controversial measures seeks to deny nationality to children of undocumented migrants born in the US, extending the restriction even to those whose parents have temporary visas. This change would represent a radical shift in the principle of birthright citizenship.

The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees this right, posing a big legal challenge for the order. At least 18 states, including California and New York, have filed lawsuits to block it. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin (pictured) called the initiative "extraordinary" and "extreme," France24 reported.

On January 24, a federal judge in Seattle blocked the measure for 14 days, setting off a potentially protracted court battle.

In an effort to fulfill his campaign promise of expelling millions of undocumented migrants from the US, Trump signed several executive orders that expand the criteria for the rapid expulsion of migrants who are in an irregular situation.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has the power to detain immigrants whose legal status is irregular, whether or not they pose a threat under the new Laken Riley Act (effective 01/30/2025).

The new provisions cover everyone from undocumented immigrants to legal residents with criminal records, regardless of the severity or age of the offense. In addition, the legislation facilitates immediate expulsions without the need for a judicial process, drastically expanding the scope of deportations.

Trump's mass deportation plan seeks to increase detention capacity from 40,000 to 100,000 beds per day. However, Congress has only approved part of the necessary funds. To reach this goal, the administration requires an additional $5.1 billion, Univision News reported.

The Trump administration expanded expedited removal authority nationwide, allowing ICE to deport immigrants without appearing before a judge if they have been in the country for less than two years. The ACLU has challenged the move in court.

However, on the Sunday after Trump's inauguration, ICE carried out a record number of arrests of undocumented immigrants, with 956 detentions and 554 detainees, the highest number ever recorded by the agency, France24 reported.

One of the most intense operations took place in Chicago, a sanctuary city. Tom Homan, a White House adviser on immigration policy, called it a “turning point” in the deportation strategy. Mayor Brandon Johnson said that local police did not collaborate in the raid.

Deportation policy has been a constant in several administrations, however. Under Biden, 271,000 immigrants were deported in 2024, and in total, 1.5 million throughout his term, a figure comparable to that of the first Trump administration, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

However, both administrations fell short compared to that of Barack Obama, whose first term recorded 2.9 million expulsions, as reported by BBC News.

Trump's team is seeking to deport one million immigrants a year, focusing on those with criminal records or removal orders. They also hope that fear of raids will drive "self-deportation," reducing immigration without the need for additional measures, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

Trump declared a national emergency on the border with Mexico and signed a measure that allows him to redirect federal funds to reinforce the border wall. He also announced the dispatch of troops to stop what he called an "invasion."

Trump has gotten Mexico to agree to reinstate the policy from his first term, forcing asylum seekers to wait in Mexico until their hearings in U.S. immigration courts. Although other measures will take time to be implemented, his administration is making progress in restricting options for legal migration.

The Pentagon has deployed 1,500 additional active-duty troops to the border, adding to the 2,500 already in the area. It has not yet been confirmed whether these troops will perform activities other than traditional logistical support that includes surveillance and barrier construction.

Although an 1878 law bars the military from engaging in civilian law enforcement, Trump has hinted that he could invoke war powers to expand its role, including detaining and transferring migrants, according to France24.

The media outlet also reported that the Trump administration has revoked Temporary Protected Status (TPS): protections for Venezuelans residing in the US, a measure that Joe Biden had extended, leaving some 600,000 migrants without work permits and without the additional 18 months that prevented their deportation.

Trump also eliminated the use of the CBP One app, which allowed migrants to enter with two-year permits and the right to work, canceling tens of thousands of appointments scheduled through February. Nearly a million people had used this tool to cross from Mexico.

Trump also ended a program that allowed more than 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to fly to the U.S. with a financial sponsor.

Unlike during his first term, Trump has not taken immediate steps to reform legal immigration, other than suspending refugee resettlement and possibly reviving travel bans.

This, more cautious stance, seems to aim at avoiding divisions among his own supporters, especially around H-1B visas for highly skilled workers. In fact, at his inauguration, he said he was “totally in favor” of legal immigration.

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