In his first 100 days, President-elect Donald Trump plans to initiate the process of deporting hundreds of thousands of people. He intends to end parole for individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, as well as reverse a policy that limited deportations for those not considered threats to public safety or national security.
Trump’s team is strategizing on how to create executive actions that can withstand legal challenges from immigrant rights groups to avoid a repeat of the early defeat faced by his 2017 travel ban targeting majority-Muslim nations. With a transformed federal judiciary and three conservative justices on the Supreme Court appointed by Trump, the legal battles are expected to have a different outcome this time around.
However, the logistical challenges of mass deportation pose a different set of obstacles for Trump’s ambitious immigration agenda. Overcoming challenges like expanding detention capacity and addressing the immigration court backlog will determine how quickly deportation policies can be reshaped.
Trump has selected South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security, despite her limited experience in the department. Stephen Miller, known for shaping Trump’s first-term immigration agenda, will play a significant role in domestic policy from the White House. Additionally, Thomas Homan, a former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Trump, will return as the administration’s border czar.
Despite facing scrutiny, Trump’s immigration team is expected to introduce several initiatives promptly, including:
Ramping up deportations
Trump’s campaign promise of mass deportation could impact a significant portion of the 11 million undocumented individuals in the U.S. The logistical challenges of deporting millions of people, especially those with criminal convictions and final removal orders, present a resource-intensive task that could take years to accomplish.
Expanding detention capacity and training additional officers to handle a surge in deportations would be a costly and complex process. Despite the challenges, Trump remains resolute in his commitment to deportation efforts.
Ending parole for people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela
The Biden administration’s humanitarian parole program for residents of these countries is expected to be swiftly terminated under Trump’s leadership. Additionally, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for individuals from countries facing unsafe conditions, including Haiti, is likely to be restricted.
Immigration restrictionist groups anticipate significant changes in these programs, aligning with Trump’s hardline stance on immigration.
Rolling back the Mayorkas memo
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ memo outlining deportation priorities is expected to be revoked early on, as it emphasized a more nuanced approach to deportation decisions based on individual circumstances rather than just criminal convictions.
Immigration restrictionists view the memo as an obstacle to efficient deportation practices and anticipate its swift removal.
Deactivating the CBP One app
The CBP One app introduced by the Biden administration to streamline asylum applications is likely to be discontinued under Trump’s leadership. The app, criticized by Republicans for facilitating unauthorized entry, may not align with Trump’s immigration policies.
Ramping up immigration diplomacy
Trump’s administration may resort to visa restrictions as a tool to pressurize countries that refuse to repatriate their citizens. This strategy aims to expedite deportations by incentivizing cooperation from home countries.
Cooperation from the State Department will be crucial for implementing these measures, indicating a need for alignment with Trump’s immigration policies in key State Department roles.
Trump’s plan to reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy, requiring asylum-seekers to stay south of the U.S.-Mexican border, will necessitate negotiations with Mexico to revive the program.
