Immigration & Border Security
Presidential Executive Orders
-
January 20, 2025 (W.H. Link) - The executive order outlines a comprehensive strategy to address illegal immigration and secure the U.S. borders, emphasizing the need to protect national sovereignty and public safety. It highlights concerns over an unprecedented influx of illegal immigrants, contraband, and threats such as cartels, traffickers, and potential terrorists. The order commits to marshaling all resources to deter illegal entry, enhance border security, and enforce immigration laws.
Key actions include constructing physical barriers, deploying additional personnel and technology, and ending "catch-and-release" practices by detaining illegal aliens until removal. The order resumes Migrant Protection Protocols and eliminates programs that facilitate unlawful entry. It also prioritizes prosecuting border-related crimes, including human trafficking and smuggling, while mandating DNA testing and other technologies to verify familial claims among detainees. International cooperation on immigration enforcement will also be strengthened.
Agencies are directed to align policies with stricter immigration enforcement and submit recommendations for additional measures within 14 days. The order is to be implemented in accordance with applicable laws and budgetary constraints, reflecting a focused effort to restore operational control of U.S. borders and address illegal immigration effectively.
-
January 20, 2025 (W.H. Link) - The executive order establishes a comprehensive framework to enforce immigration laws, address illegal immigration, and prioritize national security and public safety. It criticizes the prior administration for permitting widespread illegal immigration and the associated economic, safety, and security risks. The order directs federal agencies to revoke prior immigration-related policies and prioritize enforcement against inadmissible and removable aliens, particularly those posing threats to public safety or national security.
Key measures include constructing detention facilities, resuming the enforcement of final removal orders, and dismantling human trafficking and smuggling networks. The order mandates the establishment of Homeland Security Task Forces nationwide to combat transnational criminal organizations and coordinate federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts. Agencies are instructed to identify unregistered illegal aliens, enforce penalties for violations, and ensure compliance with immigration laws through initiatives such as enhanced information sharing and voluntary departure policies.
The order also emphasizes reducing public benefits for illegal aliens, auditing federal funds provided to organizations supporting such individuals, and hiring more agents and officers for immigration enforcement. By reinstating policies like the Migrant Protection Protocols and strengthening international cooperation for repatriation efforts, the administration aims to restore operational control over U.S. borders, improve enforcement efficiency, and safeguard the interests of American citizens. All actions are to be implemented in accordance with existing laws and subject to available resources.
-
January 20, 2025 (W.H. Link) - The order asserts that the previous administration implemented unpopular and harmful practices, including embedding "diversity, equity, and inclusion" (DEI) into Federal institutions, which it claims undermines merit and equality. It criticizes open border policies for straining resources and climate policies for driving inflation and overregulation. Relevant executive orders revoked include:
Executive Order 13993 of January 20, 2021 (Revision of Civil Immigration Enforcement Policies and Priorities).
Executive Order 14010 of February 2, 2021 (Creating a Comprehensive Regional Framework To Address the Causes of Migration, To Manage Migration Throughout North and Central America, and To Provide Safe and Orderly Processing of Asylum Seekers at the United States Border).
Executive Order 14011 of February 2, 2021 (Establishment of Interagency Task Force on the Reunification of Families).
Executive Order 14012 of February 2, 2021 (Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans).
The order mandates the immediate termination of Federal implementation of "unlawful and radical DEI ideology" by agency heads (SEE RELATED EXECUTIVE ORDER). It further directs the Directors of the Domestic Policy Council (DPC) and National Economic Council (NEC) to review actions taken under previous administration directives, recommending within 45 days which should be rescinded, replaced, or amended to "enhance American prosperity." Additionally, the National Security Advisor (NSA) must review all National Security Memoranda (NSMs) issued between January 20, 2021, and January 20, 2025, to identify any harm to national security, domestic resilience, or American values, and provide recommendations for rescission within the same timeframe.
-
February 19, 2025 (W.H. Link) - This order affirms that federal law, particularly the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, prohibits illegal aliens from receiving taxpayer-funded benefits, a principle the order claims has been weakened by recent administrations. It directs executive agencies to identify and modify programs that allow ineligible noncitizens to obtain public benefits, strengthen eligibility verification systems, and ensure federal funds do not incentivize illegal immigration or support sanctuary policies. Additionally, within 30 days, key officials must pinpoint other sources of federal funding benefiting illegal aliens and recommend further actions to align spending with this mandate. The order also includes provisions ensuring it does not impair existing legal authorities or create enforceable rights.
-
President Trump issued a proclamation on March 14, 2025, designating Tren de Aragua (TdA) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and declaring it a threat to the United States due to its infiltration of the country, partnership with the Maduro regime’s Cártel de los Soles, and involvement in narcoterrorism, trafficking, and irregular warfare. The proclamation asserts that TdA is conducting hostile actions against the U.S. with the intent to undermine public safety and destabilize democratic nations. Under the Alien Enemies Act, the order directs the apprehension, detention, and removal of all TdA members within the U.S. who are not naturalized or lawful permanent residents. Federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and Homeland Security, are instructed to coordinate efforts to enforce these directives, seize property used in hostile activities, and ensure compliance with applicable laws. The proclamation further declares that all TdA members present in the U.S. are a danger to public safety and ineligible for legal protections.