Donald Trump’s presidency began on January 20, 2025, and from his very first day in office, he immediately started working on immigration that aligned with his campaign promises. Here’s a look at how his administration laid the groundwork for a series of measures that reshaped U.S. immigration policy.

Immediate Focus on Border Security

On January 25, 2025, just five days into his presidency, Trump signed two executive orders aimed at fulfilling his pledge to crack down on illegal immigration:
       Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States: This order prioritized the deportation of undocumented immigrants, particularly those charged with crimes, and significantly expanded the definition of “criminal aliens.”
      Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements: This directive called for the immediate planning and construction of a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and expanded the hiring of border agents.

Trump promised Mass Deportation of Foreign Criminals on his First Day, here we can assume that some will be done 

• Ending Parole for Illegal Aliens  from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela
  President Trump plans to immediately end the parole program for illegal alliens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. This program, introduced by the Biden administration, allows individuals from these countries to apply for temporary entry into the U.S. based on humanitarian grounds, provided they meet specific conditions such as having sponsors in the U.S. President Trump has criticized the program, claiming it contributes to what he views as excessive immigration and border instability. Ending this program would align with his broader immigration policies, which focus on reducing both legal and illegal immigration and reinstating stricter border controls, such as the construction of a border wall and re-implementing policies like “Remain in Mexico.”
• Pressuring Countries to Accept Deportees:
  Trump intends to use diplomatic and economic leverage to compel countries to accept their deported citizens, a measure aimed at addressing instances where deportations are stalled because foreign governments refuse to cooperate.
• Increasing Deportation Numbers:
  ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) currently employs about 7,000 officers, conducting approximately 250,000 deportations annually. Trump has stated a goal to significantly increase deportation numbers—potentially quadrupling them. Achieving this would likely require a substantial increase in resources, staffing, and infrastructure for ICE.

Prioritizing Deportations

In a marked shift in immigration enforcement policy, advisers to President Donald Trump have indicated that the administration will prioritize the deportation of individuals with criminal convictions and final removal orders. This move, documented by the American Immigration Council, raises significant questions about the logistics, implications, and broader societal impacts of such an approach as the United States grapples with nearly 1.19 million people awaiting deportation under similar circumstances.

According to the American Immigration Council, as of 2022, approximately 1.19 million people held final removal orders against them, indicating that their legal battles had concluded and that courts had ruled they must leave the country. This substantial number of individuals, many of whom have lived in the U.S. for years, poses significant challenges to the immigration enforcement system. Removing even a fraction of these individuals could be a protracted endeavour, potentially stretching over several years.

“While the administration’s intention to prioritize criminal convictions might resonate with some segments of the population, the reality is that this approach complicates an already overwhelmed immigration system,” says Dr. Maria Gonzalez, a senior fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies. “The backlog of cases and the logistics of apprehending individuals who may have established lives in the U.S. could lead to a chaotic implementation of such policies.”

It’s important to note that the category of individuals targeted by these new enforcement priorities is not monolithic. Many of those with criminal convictions could encompass a wide range of offenses, from minor misdemeanours to more serious felonies. Critics argue that this blanket approach might disproportionately affect marginalized communities, particularly those who have already faced systemic barriers within the legal system.

While proponents of stricter immigration enforcement argue that such measures are critical for maintaining public safety and upholding the rule of law, others urge a more nuanced approach. According to the Migration Policy Institute, a think tank focused on migration issues, comprehensive immigration reform is needed to address the root causes of migration and the complexities of individuals’ circumstances.

The logistics of implementing these new deportation priorities present additional hurdles for immigration authorities. A lack of resources and personnel, compounded by the existing backlog of immigration cases, could hinder efforts to remove those with final orders. Experts recommend increased funding and support for immigration courts and enforcement agencies as a means to improve efficiency in addressing the substantial number of individuals awaiting deportation.

As the President Trump administration’s advisers prepare to carry out this new directive, it remains to be seen how it will unfold in practice.