The new Trump administration has big plans for immigration policies. They are focusing on strict border measures, undoing Biden-era policies, and detaining and deporting migrants on a large scale. This marks a shift from Trump’s previous focus on building a border wall to interior enforcement and removing undocumented immigrants already in the US.
The administration is laying the groundwork for expanding detention facilities to fulfill Trump’s campaign promise of mass deportation. They are also considering executive actions, such as reinstating the “remain in Mexico” program, revising asylum restrictions, and revoking protections for migrants covered by Biden’s programs. Another executive order being considered would make detention mandatory and end the practice of releasing migrants due to limited federal resources.
Plans also include bringing back family detention, which was ended by President Biden. The administration is looking at reprogramming agency funds and potentially declaring a national emergency to unlock Pentagon resources to expand detention space. The private sector is also preparing to add more beds for detention.
Key figures in the administration include immigration hardliner Stephen Miller, veteran immigration official Tom Homan, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. They are planning large staging facilities near the border to detain and deport migrants, as well as worksite raids. The goal is to target public safety and national security threats.
During Trump’s first term, over 1.5 million people were deported, but this was fewer than the deportations under Obama’s administration. The administration’s focus in the first few days will be on stemming the flow of migrants and addressing those already in the country.
Overall, the administration is taking a hardline approach to immigration, with a focus on detention and deportation. These policies are likely to have a significant impact on migrants and immigrants in the US.
