Following his inauguration as America’s 47th President on January 20, 2025, Donald Trump discussed various initiatives, including significant changes to immigration policy.
President Trump will declare a national emergency at the US southern border. Under this order, the US Departments of Defense and Homeland Security will be tasked with completing the border wall construction. Additionally, they will be authorized to deploy the National Guard and Armed Forces in the border zone.
Trump is reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy, meaning that those entering without visas cannot request asylum on US territory and must await immigration court decisions in Mexico. Additionally, the “Catch and Release” policy is being terminated, which had allowed individuals detained for illegal border crossing to be initially released until their court proceedings concluded.
Regarding asylum restrictions and border closure, Trump’s executive order will effectively suspend US asylum law until what the president calls an “invasion at the southern border” ends, CNN reports.
According to media reports, border patrol and relevant service representatives will detain and deport individuals who cross the border illegally, without the right to request asylum.
Under the president’s executive order, individuals without legal status in the country will be deported. The order specifically emphasizes that law enforcement will prioritize the detention and deportation of individuals illegally present in the country, many of whom, he claims, are involved in criminal activities.
Trump also signed an executive order aimed at ending “birthright citizenship.” Trump’s order seeks to change rules to deny citizenship to children of migrants who are in the US illegally or with temporary visas. However, according to BBC’s article, most constitutional experts agree that an executive order is likely insufficient for this purpose and the issue will likely evolve into lengthy court proceedings.
Photo: from the official Facebook page of President Donald J. Trump.