Trump’s sweeping actions against immigration in first few days
By Elket Rodriguez
As you may be aware, President Trump has taken immediate and sweeping action to overhaul U.S. immigration policy following his inauguration Monday.
I’ve put together a concise overview of the significant shifts in immigration policy under the new administration.
Since writing this, the “sensitive locations” protection has been revoked, meaning that ICE can enter houses of worship, schools and hospitals to find and arrest unauthorized immigrants.
Click to download a PDF in English and en Español.
Declare national emergency at the southern border: Characterized the border situation as an "invasion" and ordered measures to address this situation.
Suspend asylum processing at the border: Instructed the Department of Defense to design a plan to "seal the borders" and take action against illegal migration, drug and human trafficking, and other criminal activities.
Reinstate the "Remain in Mexico" program: Ordered federal agencies to begin reactivating the Migrant Protection Protocol (MPP), which requires asylum seekers to wait for their hearings in Mexico.
Eliminate CBP One: Suspended the use of the mobile application that allowed scheduling asylum appointments and canceled all scheduled appointments.
Suspend refugee admissions: Halted the U.S. Refugee Program for four months.
End the "catch and release" policy: Ordered stricter measures to detain, deport, or expel migrants and asylum seekers attempting to enter the United States without authorization.
Eliminate parole programs: Suspended the parole program for citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela with sponsors. Did not eliminate the Uniting for Ukraine parole program for Ukrainian citizens fleeing the war against Russia.
Restructure immigration courts: Dismissed top EOIR officials, marking a shift towards stricter policies in the courts.
Limit birthright citizenship: Issued an executive order seeking to limit birthright citizenship for certain groups, including children of undocumented immigrants born after February 19, 2025. This order has been challenged in court.
Designation of cartels as terrorist organizations: Declared a national emergency to address threats from international cartels and transnational groups such as Tren de Aragua (TdA) and MS-13. Invoked the Alien Enemies Act, authorizing the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to make operational preparations for its implementation.
