Sep 13, 2023
This immigration update is brought to you by Docketwise immigration software. I'm James Pittman, and today we're bringing you a comprehensive update on Donald Trump's recently released immigration plan for 2025.
Former President Trump's vision for immigration and border control is making headlines once again. According to reporting by Axios, in the event Donald Trump is elected as the 47th President of the United States next year, he is proposing unprecedented restrictions on immigration and border security.
The ambitious 2025 Trump immigration plan includes a series of new and revived policies, some resting on laws which have rarely, if ever, been enforced. Here's a snapshot of what this plan entails:
1. Ideological Screening: Trump aims to strengthen ideological screening for individuals applying to enter the U.S. legally. While U.S. law has long blocked communists, Nazis and “members of totalitarian parties” from entry, this provision has not been rigorously enforced in recent decades. Trump wants to enforce it to reject applicants he deems 'Marxists.' Given the elastic and inaccurate usage of that term by many on the right of American politics such a policy would leave the door wide open to abuse in the form of using wholly subjective grounds for exclusion.
2. Naval Blockade: Another striking proposal involves sending the Coast Guard and the Navy to establish a blockade in waters off the U.S. and Latin America. The stated objective of such a move would be to intercept and halt drug smuggling boats, taking border enforcement to the high seas.
3. Expansion of the so-called 'Muslim Ban’: Trump's plan seeks to expand his earlier 'Muslim ban,' which restricted immigration from predominantly Muslim or African countries. This time, he plans to widen the scope, potentially affecting more countries.
4. Cartels as 'Unlawful Enemy Combatants': In a significant move, Trump would designate drug cartels as 'unlawful enemy combatants.' This would enable the U.S. military to target them in Mexico, potentially escalating the fight against drug trafficking.
5. End of Birthright Citizenship: Trump would renew efforts to end birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants in the U.S., a move that could trigger legal battles.
6. Continuation of Border Wall: The plan includes the completion of the border wall that Trump initiated during his presidency. The project had previously been halted by President Biden.
7. Deportation Measures: Trump's proposal seeks to expedite the deportation of migrant gang members, smugglers, and other criminals using a section of the 1798 Alien and Sedition Acts.
8. Focus on the Southern Border While Trump's primary focus remains on the southern border, it's worth noting that his plan also targets legal immigration. For instance, he intends to scrutinize the ideologies of immigration applicants by searching their social media accounts, adding a layer to the already existing practice of providing social media handles.
9. Financial and Health Requirements: Furthermore, Trump plans to demand proof of health insurance affordability from prospective immigrants and impose significant bonds on some travelers seeking entry into the US.
10. Potential Challenges Inevitable: Many of these proposals, such as designating cartels as 'unlawful enemy combatants' and initiating a naval blockade, could escalate tensions with Mexico. Additionally, Trump's reliance on Mexico for the 'Remain in Mexico' policy could raise humanitarian concerns.
11. Legal Battles Ahead: Trump's team is leaning on two sections of U.S. law to justify these plans: INA Section 212(f), which grants the president the authority to suspend the entry of aliens whose presence he deems detrimental to the United States, and the Alien Enemies Act, part of the old Alien and Sedition Acts signed way back in 1798.
The Alien Enemies Act (officially "An Act Respecting Alien Enemies") was passed to supplement the Alien Friends Act, granting the government additional powers to regulate non-citizens that would take effect in times of war.[2][3] Under this law, the president could authorize the arrest, relocation, or deportation of any non-citizen male residing in the United States that was 14 years or older.
The law was later revised to apply to both sexes.
12. Administration Cooperation: To realize his vision, Trump would require cooperation from key government departments, including State, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and Justice. His call for loyalty tests and 'Schedule F' executive orders could further shape the administration's approach to immigration.
As we progress toward the 2024 election no doubt this immigration plan will at times take center stage in discussions. It's clear that it carries the potential to reshape immigration policies and practices if Donald Trump returns to the presidency in 2024. Stay informed, stay engaged, and stay tuned for more immigration-related insights with our video updates and on our podcast Immigration Uncovered. Until next time, I'm James Pittman, your host, signing off.
