Date: November 12, 2024
Washington, D.C. — President-elect Donald Trump is expected to take sweeping executive actions on his first day in office, moving swiftly to enforce immigration laws more strictly and overturn key legal immigration programs established by the Biden administration, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Sources told Reuters that Trump's planned actions would grant federal immigration officials increased authority to detain individuals without criminal records, deploy military personnel to the U.S.-Mexico border, and resume construction of the border wall. Trump is also expected to end Biden’s humanitarian programs, which have allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter the U.S. legally in recent years. Some may even be encouraged to leave the country voluntarily if their legal status has expired.
"This is a discussion that needs to happen," said Mark Morgan, a former immigration official in Trump's first term, although he clarified he is not part of Trump’s transition team. Trump’s initial executive orders are aimed at fulfilling his campaign promise to reduce illegal immigration significantly.
With an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. as of 2022, according to the Department of Homeland Security, cities like New York, Chicago, and Denver are struggling to provide housing and resources to recent migrants.
Trump, who defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in last week’s election, made immigration a focal point of his campaign, criticizing the Biden administration's handling of illegal border crossings.
The transition effort for Trump is still in its early stages, and plans could change before he is sworn in on January 20. A Trump spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.
Under President Biden, border apprehensions hit record highs, straining the U.S. Border Patrol. However, Biden’s recent border restrictions and increased enforcement efforts in Mexico have led to a sharp decline in unauthorized crossings. Trump aims to curtail unauthorized crossings to an absolute minimum, using a whole-of-government approach to detain and deport large numbers of immigrants.
Trump also announced on Sunday that former ICE Director Tom Homan would assume a new role as "border czar" in the White House, overseeing immigration enforcement and border security. Additionally, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance hinted on Monday that Stephen Miller, who played a key role in Trump’s first-term immigration agenda, would return as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, ensuring immigration remains a central focus.
However, Trump’s aggressive plans are likely to face legal challenges from Democratic-led states, civil rights groups, and pro-immigration advocates.
Actions in Progress
One of Trump’s expected first-day actions is an executive order on what is known as “interior enforcement.” This would empower authorities to detain and deport individuals without a criminal record more readily.
Trump’s order is expected to prioritize the deportation of those with serious criminal charges and those who have exhausted their legal options to remain in the U.S., but without limiting officers from detaining others who are also deportable.
More than a million immigrants in the U.S. have exhausted their legal options to stay and are under deportation orders, according to the pro-immigration American Immigration Council. These individuals will be a priority, said Homan in a Monday interview with Fox News.
Some specific groups may also be targeted for removal, including international students who have violated their visa terms and allegedly support extremist groups like Hamas, according to two sources.
Another expected executive order will address border security. Trump intends to send National Guard troops to the border and declare illegal immigration a national emergency to unlock funds for the wall construction. Arizona, a state where Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs has opposed Republican immigration enforcement efforts, is expected to be a priority area for the wall.
Ending Biden’s Programs
Trump also plans to end Biden’s temporary humanitarian programs, which allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter the U.S. legally and access work permits. These programs include initiatives for certain migrants with sponsors in the U.S. and a system that allowed migrants in Mexico to schedule border appointments via an app.
For those currently under expired temporary protections who voluntarily depart the U.S., Trump’s policy may allow them to apply for reentry without penalty.
Trump is expected to negotiate with Mexico to revive his previous "Remain in Mexico" policy, which required non-Mexican asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while awaiting U.S. court decisions on their cases.
As Trump prepares to launch his immigration agenda, these moves signal the incoming administration's determination to prioritize stricter enforcement measures on unauthorized immigration and reinforce border security as a key aspect of his policy framework.
