Immigration reforms was a common theme in many campaign speeches, and the Trump administration has made their intentions to crack down on immigration very clear. In the first 100 days of his presidency, Trump has begun to make progress in immigration policies. The new administration has struggled against setbacks and resistance, but there have been a number of executive actions and administrative changes that have already begun to affect the immigration policy in the U.S.
In both February and March, the number of arrests at the southwest border has decreased by roughly 40%. In the past two decades, such a sharp decrease has never been recorded. Some of the decreases are predicted to be due to the hardline stance on immigration that the Trump administration has taken, making it less appealing for immigrants to enter the country illegally. While it is expected that the effects of the current policy will be short-lived, Trump is still looking into options to secure the border against illegal immigrants.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is also reporting a greater number of arrests of undocumented persons inside the U.S. Many of these immigrants do not have a criminal record. The arrest numbers are greatly increased from those of 2015 and 2016, when ICE and other agencies were directed to use greater discretion as to the arrests and prioritization of immigrants for removal.
The Trump administration has also worked towards passing immigration-related legislation, including decreasing immigration from a number of Muslim-majority countries, increasing border security, and pushing for greater enforcement in the U.S. The administration has also made a show of reversing many Obama-era policies and priorities for enforcement.
Trump has also struggled with judicial and funding setbacks, which have prevented his long-promised border wall from materializing, as well as crippling his attempts to implement an immigration ban. The immigration ban has been one of the fiercest fights yet, and many states have worked to block the immigration ban in court. Similarly, there has been little financial progress towards building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, which was a cornerstone of Trump’s campaign promises.
Immigration advocates have denounced the President’s actions as going against the American idea of welcoming immigrants and refugees to pursue their dreams, and has weakened the country as a result of his actions.
If you or your loved ones have questions about the latest immigration policies, don’t hesitate to contact our San Jose immigration attorneys. At the Verma Law Firm, we are committed to educating and protecting our clients to ensure that they can successfully navigate their immigration law case.
Discover how we can assist you with a case evaluation. Contact our offices by calling (408) 560-4622.