What's changing for US immigration under Trump

If you follow American news, you have surely noticed that immigration is THE topic that has been stirring the country since Donald Trump returned to the White House. I have been diving into the issue for weeks, and I will explain to you what has already changed, what will change... and why these measures are making so much noise.

Return of emblematic decrees: are we going to use the same ones?

As soon as he was inaugurated, Trump brought out his playbook of 2017. On the first day, he signed a series of decrees to relaunch his flagship policies. For example, the program " Remain in Mexico » is back: asylum seekers must wait in Mexico while their cases are processed. Except this time, relations with Mexico are strained… and no one knows if it will hold.

He also reinstated mass deportations, promising “the largest operation in American history.” In concrete terms, undocumented immigrants arrested for crimes (even minor ones) risk immediate deportation. A lawyer friend of mine told me: It's the hunt for migrants, version 2.0 ".

Guantanamo and the criminalization of migrants: the thunderbolt

Now it's getting serious. At the end of January, Trump announced that he wanted to send up to 30,000 undocumented immigrants at Guantanamo. Yes, the same military base where terrorist suspects have been held for 20 years. The pretext? To fight “foreign criminals.” Except that in fact, the new law Laken Riley allows migrants to be detained accused (not convicted) of theft or assault.

I wondered: How can this be justified legally? Apparently, the administration is counting on the fact that Guantanamo is outside of U.S. territory… and therefore beyond the reach of certain constitutional rights. One expert told me: It's a bold circumvention, but it's going to end up in the Supreme Court ".

The end of birthright citizenship? An explosive debate

Trump has revived an old promise: to eliminate the right of the soil, which grants citizenship to anyone born on American soil. Problem: This right is enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. So how do you do it? The idea is to sign a decree to restrict its application, for example by requiring that one parent be a legal resident.

But here again, the legal obstacles are enormous. A law professor explained to me: " Amending the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority in Congress. With a divided Senate, that's mission impossible. " Yet Trump insists... and it fuels debates about American identity.

Refugees and asylum: a door that closes

The refugee program is suspended, pending a "security review." In short: no one will enter the United States through this channel for at least 120 days. Worse, the application CBP One, used under Biden to manage legal entries, has been purely deleted.

For asylum seekers, it’s a double whammy. Not only do they have to wait in Mexico, but the eligibility criteria have been tightened. As a result, the acceptance rate has dropped by 35% in one month. One aid worker told me: We see desperate families returning after years of waiting ".

“Remain in Mexico” and international agreements: the puzzle

The return of this policy poses an unprecedented problem: Mexico is no longer as cooperative as it was in 2019. Under pressure, they have agreed to take back a few thousand migrants… but are threatening to block the southern border. One diplomat told me: It's a game of liar's poker. Nobody wants to be the one who cracks. ".

At the same time, Trump is pushing for agreements with Central American countries, asking them to hold back migrants in exchange for economic aid. El Salvador and Guatemala have already signed… but Honduras is resisting.

The consequences for communities: between fear and solidarity

In cities like Miami and Los Angeles, the atmosphere is electric. ICE (immigration police) raids have resumed, even targeting symbolic places like churches and schools. A Mexican restaurant owner told me: We live with fear in our stomachs. My employees no longer sleep at home. ".

But resistance is growing. Citizen networks are sheltering undocumented immigrants, and states like California are strengthening their laws. sanctuary. A mayor summed up: “ It's a war between Washington and the cities ".

The uncertain future of humanitarian programs

The program TPS (Temporary Protected Status), which protected migrants from countries in crisis, is on probation. Honduras and Nicaragua could be excluded by the summer. Worse: the Project 2025, a plan from the ultra-conservative wing, proposes to eliminate asylum for gang victims altogether[8].

Even political refugees are affected. One Syrian told me: " I have been waiting for my visa for 3 years. Now I am told that everything is frozen. ".

And what about legal immigration?

Contrary to what one might think, work or family visas are not spared. Processing times are getting longer, and administrative costs have increased by 20%. A consultant explained to me: " It's a strategy: discourage legal requests to lower the numbers ".

The program EB-5 (investor visa) is also in the crosshairs. Trump wants to raise the investment threshold to $1.5 million, which would make it inaccessible to the middle class.

Conclusion: A divided country, a brutal policy

In a few weeks, Trump has therefore relaunched his shock measures… and added new features like Guantanamo. But behind the announcements, the obstacles are legion: resistance from states, legal battles, international pressure.

Personally, I think this policy will leave lasting scars. Between separated families, stranded refugees and traumatized communities, the human cost is enormous. What do you think?