Deporting undocumented immigrants was a key component of Donald Trump’s immigration policy while he was president. He placed a strong emphasis on upholding immigration rules and aimed to deport more people who were in the country illegally, regardless of their criminal histories.
Trump’s immigration and deportation policy’s main features include: Enhanced Enforcement
With increased funding for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), immigration enforcement has increased under the Trump administration. As a result, more undocumented immigrants were arrested and deported.
Pay Attention to Criminal Offenses:
Although deporting immigrants with criminal convictions or those suspected of committing major crimes was a top priority for Trump’s administration, those without criminal records who were living in the country illegally were also targeted.
The Wall at the Border:
Building a physical wall along the U.S.-Mexico border to deter illegal immigration was one of Trump’s campaign pledges. Even though the wall was only partially built, it served as a metaphor for his administration’s larger attempts to lower immigration, which included deporting those who had entered the country illegally.
Dreamers and DACA:
Trump made an effort to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which shielded young immigrants—often referred to as Dreamers—who were brought to the United States as children from deportation. They were able to remain and work lawfully in the United States thanks to the program. Nevertheless, DACA continued to be a controversial topic under Trump’s presidency, even if some protections were maintained by court decisions.
“Zero Tolerance” and the Dissolution of Families:
The “zero tolerance” policy, which was implemented by the Trump administration in 2018, sought to prosecute everyone who entered the country illegally. Families were thus split up at the border, and children were removed from their parents while they were being held. The policy’s detrimental effects led to significant criticism and its eventual reversal.
States and Cities designated as sanctuary:
Sanctuary cities, where local law enforcement does not fully cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, are the regions that Trump targeted. He threatened to stop providing federal funds to states and towns that cooperated with ICE. California and other states resisted these tactics by enacting legislation of their own to safeguard unauthorized immigrants.
Undocumented Immigrant Deportation:
Deporting people who overstayed their visas or entered the country illegally was one of Trump’s main objectives. He maintained that doing so would enhance national security and lower crime. However, civil rights organizations, immigrant rights groups, and even some municipal governments strongly opposed his actions, claiming that the harsh deportation strategy caused family separation and eroded public confidence in law enforcement.
Public Response and Legal Difficulties:
Immigrant advocacy organizations heavily condemned Trump’s policies, claiming that they caused instability and anxiety in immigrant communities. Protests, court cases, and public indignation over the treatment of immigrants resulted from the harsh deportation policies.
Effects on Immigrants from Africa:
Trump’s deportation policy affected African immigrants as well as others. Although Latin American immigrants received the majority of attention, the administration’s actions also subjected African immigrants—including those who were seeking asylum or were living without legal status—to deportation.
In summary, there was a major push to deport illegal immigrants under Trump’s presidency, with an emphasis on border control, enforcement, and the expulsion of those without documentation from the United States. His contentious measures contributed to the nation’s growing tensions over immigration. A number of his policies, like as separating families and ending DACA, provoked demonstrations and legal challenges. Although these measures were essential to his administration’s immigration policy, they were also opposed by a number of organizations, especially those who supported immigrant rights.
