According to recent polls, Former President Trump looks like the favorite to win the 2024 Republican presidential nod. As a former president, Trump took a tough stance on immigration and the border, restricting access to asylum and permanent residency for thousands of immigrants.
Trump recently unveiled his immigration plan for 2025, if he were to be elected again. The plan, full of unprecedented measures that go much further than his previous policies, would restrict immigration access for millions of individuals. Here are the plan’s main proposals and how they would impact the U.S. immigration system as a whole:
U.S.-Mexico Border Crackdown
Trump’s proposed immigration plan for 2025 focuses heavily on the southern border, with several inflammatory proposals that could increase political tensions with Mexico.
- Trump suggests a naval blockade by the Coast Guard and U.S. Navy to stop drug smuggling boats in U.S.-Latin America waters.
- Drug cartels would be designated as “unlawful enemy combatants,” allowing U.S. military intervention in Mexico.
- The plan would extend Texas’ border barriers, including the controversial floating barriers in the Rio Grande.
- The completion of the border wall is included in the 2025 plan, despite President Biden having halted the project.
- Trump aims to reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy and restore previous asylum restrictions.
- Title 42 might also be used to expel migrants based on public health concerns.
Curtailed Access to Legal Immigration
Trump’s 2025 plan also seeks to significantly curtail legal immigration by reducing access for prospective immigrants based on ideology, wealth, health, and country of origin.
- The plan includes increased ideological screening for prospective immigrants to reject those suspected of communist ideals.
- The “Muslim ban” concept enacted under the previous Trump administration would be expanded to block entry for more individuals from specific countries.
- Birthright citizenship would end for children of undocumented immigrants.
- Migrants could be swiftly deported through the use of the controversial and outdated Alien and Sedition Acts.
- Enhanced screening which would involve examining social media accounts, proving health insurance, and paying entry bonds, would be enforced.
- Aggressive enforcement would involve the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and possibly the National Guard in apprehending undocumented immigrants.