Author: Azadeh Haidari-Garmash, RCIC
Following his electoral victory, Donald Trump swiftly moved to populate his administration with staunch conservatives, in what appeared to be a strategic move to advance his immigration plans.
Long known for his fervent commitment to curbing immigration, as epitomized by the famous "build the wall" mantra of 2016, Trump's pledge of "mass deportation" of undocumented immigrants seems more plausible now, given the support of an administration and judicial system that align with his views.
However, the promise of mass deportations is not the sole element of Trump's immigration policy. His Agenda47 policy plan and Core 20 commitments provide further insights into his immigration strategies:
In a May 2023 post from Agenda47, Trump outlined that he would immediately sign an executive order upon assuming office, aimed at preventing children of unauthorized immigrants from automatically gaining U.S. citizenship.
This directive would nudge federal bodies to stipulate that "at least one parent must be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident for their offspring to automatically acquire U.S. citizenship," as per the policy plan.
In the same Agenda47 post, Trump made clear his intention to terminate what he refers to as "birth tourism," namely, immigrating to the U.S. with the express purpose of having a child who would then automatically become a U.S. citizen.
Under the current system, an immigrant can enter the country using a tourist visa and legally have a child.
Despite numerous attempts by various presidents to seal the border, success has been elusive. Only approximately 654 miles of the 1,954-mile long border with Mexico have any form of barrier.
The Republican National Committee's (RNC) stance on immigration also leans towards stringent vetting, abolishing "sanctuary cities" and enforcing immigration laws, the campaign previously informed USA TODAY. This approach, bolstered by an administration and judiciary that appear to share his vision, suggests that Trump's immigration policies may soon become a tangible reality.
