Trump’s day one: deportations, border wall and ending Biden’s humanitarian policies
On his first day in office, President-elect Donald Trump plans a series of executive actions aimed at overhauling U.S. immigration policy. These actions will empower federal officers to arrest individuals without criminal records and restart construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall. Trump also intends to end key humanitarian programs established by President Joe Biden, which allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter the U.S. legally in recent years.
Trump’s broader immigration agenda includes deporting record numbers of undocumented immigrants, a promise central to his campaign. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security estimates that there are 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country, many of whom are likely to face intensified enforcement.
Trump plans to prioritize the deportation of individuals with criminal charges or those who have exhausted legal avenues to remain in the U.S., reversing Biden’s approach, which focused on deporting those with serious criminal histories. Immigrants who have overstayed visas or violated the terms of their entry could also face heightened enforcement under Trump’s orders.
Additionally, Trump will push for the return of National Guard troops to the border and declare illegal immigration a national emergency, unlocking funds for further border wall construction. He also aims to end Biden’s temporary humanitarian programs, including the “parole” programs that granted legal status and work permits to certain migrants, and plans to discuss reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which requires asylum seekers to wait in Mexico during their U.S. immigration proceedings.
These actions are expected to face legal challenges, especially from states with Democratic leadership, as well as immigration advocates who oppose the aggressive measures. Trump’s strict stance on immigration remains a central aspect of his policy vision.
