On January 20, 2025, just a few hours after his inauguration, newly sworn-in American President Donald J. Trump started his announced crackdown on illegal immigration in the United States. He adopted a series of actions, including instructing the military to increase border security activities, issuing a broad ban on asylum, shutting down the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) One entry program, and introducing measures to restrict access to citizenship for children born on American soil.
As Reuters reported, during his inauguration speech, President Trump declared, “As commander-in-chief, I have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions, and that is exactly what I am going to do,” a justification for introducing these measures. Immigration advocates have warned about the negative effects that these policies, including mass deportation, could have not only on businesses but also on families, which could be torn apart. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a federal complaint stating that the decision to close down the CBP One program, launched by former President Joe Biden in October 2020, which had allowed thousands of asylum-seeking migrants to legally enter the United States by scheduling an appointment at dedicated facilities on an app, took away the only avenue to asylum at the US-Mexico border, leaving countless people stranded and uncertain of what’s to come. Furthermore, Trump has challenged to put additional restrictions on citizenship of US-born children if they don’t have at least one US citizen or permanent resident parent. Anthony Romero, the ACLU’s Executive Director, has stated that “Denying citizenship to US-born children is not only unconstitutional – the US Constitution, in the 14th Amendment, states that whoever is born in the United States is an American citizen – it’s also a reckless and ruthless repudiation of American values.”
The anti-immigration policies that President Trump has enacted pose a serious threat to the rights of the people who seek asylum in the United States, the migrants who are still waiting on a response to their citizen application, and all children who were born in the country but don’t have US-citizen parents. If police and military forces enforce these measures, many could be arrested, forcefully removed and imprisoned, or even sent back to their countries of origin, where they might be in danger and fear for their lives. The basic human rights of these vulnerable people are being disregarded and trampled on, and their dreams for a better and safer future are shattered.
The fight against illegal immigration has been a core element of President Trump’s agenda since his first term (2017-2021) when he first started implementing restrictive and anti-immigration measures, the most famous being the construction of the reinforced wall at the US-Mexican border. During the presidential campaign of 2024, the topic was once again put at the center of his political program, promising to intensify border security, deport record numbers of migrants through mass deportation schemes, and turn the phenomenon of illegal immigration into a national emergency. With the rise of discontent and opposition toward immigrants without legal status among Americans, as a poll made by Reuters/Ipsos last December illustrates more than 50% of responders stated to be in favor of the deportation of illegal migrants, the President found solid ground on which to base his new immigration plan and more supporters to these controversial policies.
President Trump wasted no time in implementing his new immigration policies, fulfilling his campaign promises, and addressing the issue head-on. On his first day back in office, he enacted sweeping measures that have left thousands of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border stunned and uncertain. Many had their scheduled appointments for asylum canceled when the CBP One program was abruptly shut down, leaving them stranded with no clear path forward. While it’s too soon to predict the full consequences of these policies, immigration lawyers, activists, and human rights advocates are ready to stand up for those whose rights are at risk. The vulnerable immigrant community will not be left alone in this fight.