On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump issued a series of sweeping executive orders targeting immigration. These actions, which follow his campaign promises to enforce stricter border policies and ramp up deportations, have already prompted legal challenges and raised concerns among immigrant communities.
“With these actions we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense,” President Trump said Monday after taking his oath of office. “All illegal entry will immediately be halted and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.”
Key Actions
National Emergency at the Border
Trump declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, enabling the deployment of military personnel to support border enforcement efforts. “All illegal entry will immediately be halted,” Trump said in his inaugural address. The Defense Department is authorized to send troops to assist with logistics, detention space, and transportation of migrants, though they cannot enforce domestic laws under the Constitution.
This declaration also revives efforts to complete the border wall and reinforces Trump’s commitment to tightening southern border security.
Designating Cartels as Terrorist Organizations
This order designates certain international cartels and organizations as “Foreign Terrorist Organizations,” potentially affecting asylum seekers and immigrants associated with regions where these cartels operate.
CBP One App Shutdown
Trump ended the use of CBP One, a government app that allowed migrants to schedule asylum appointments at border ports of entry. The app, which processed over 936,000 appointments since its launch, was instrumental in creating an orderly pathway for asylum seekers under the Biden administration.
With the app’s shutdown, existing appointments have been canceled, leaving thousands of asylum seekers without a legal avenue to enter the U.S. “There is now no way for anyone to seek asylum at the border, even for families,” Lee Gelernt, an attorney representing the ACLU in a lawsuit challenging the move, told NBC News.
Ending Birthright Citizenship
In a controversial move, Trump signed an executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to noncitizen parents (those in the U.S. on temporary visas and those who entered unlawfully). The order asserts that the Constitution’s 14th Amendment has been misinterpreted and directs federal agencies not to recognize automatic citizenship in such cases. The order is set to go into effect in 30 days, meaning it will apply to children born on or after February 19, 2025.
Critics argue that this action violates the Constitution and would require a constitutional amendment to enforce. Legal experts anticipate lengthy court battles, and civil rights groups are already filing lawsuits.
Suspension of Refugee Resettlement
The president suspended refugee resettlement programs for at least four months, halting the admission of refugees into the U.S. This move is part of a broader effort to limit pathways for humanitarian relief.
Removal of Immigration Leadership
In an unexpected personnel shakeup, senior officials at the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which oversees U.S. immigration courts, were dismissed. The removals have raised legal questions and underscored Trump’s push to install leadership aligned with his policy agenda.
Revoking Humanitarian Parole Programs
Trump also suspended a program that allowed migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to be paroled into the U.S. with sponsors. This program had brought over 800,000 migrants into the country since its implementation.
What This Means for Immigrants
For migrants, the shutdown of asylum pathways like CBP One and the rollback of humanitarian programs leave few legal options for entry. The declaration of a national emergency intensifies border enforcement, while the push to end birthright citizenship threatens a constitutional right long considered fundamental.
The immediate impact will likely be felt most acutely at the southern border, where canceled asylum appointments may lead to increased unauthorized crossings. For undocumented immigrants already in the U.S., the threat of deportation looms larger under Trump’s renewed enforcement priorities.
Legal Challenges Ahead
Several of Trump’s orders are expected to face significant legal hurdles. Efforts to end birthright citizenship, for instance, contradict established constitutional interpretations and are likely to be blocked in court. Similarly, advocacy groups have already filed lawsuits to challenge the termination of CBP One and other policy changes.