Trump's Immigration Agenda: Examining Executive Orders and Policy Plans

his first week back in office, President Donald Trump wasted no time. He signed a series of executive orders, including eight that directly target immigration and border control. From the start, Trump has taken a hardline stance on immigration, pushing a “zero tolerance” approach toward undocumented entry into the United States. During his first term, he made immigration one of his defining issues, especially focusing on building up the US-Mexico border. His campaign coined the phrase, “Build the wall,” which became a central part of his presidency. To make that happen, he fast-tracked construction, expanded the wall, and ramped up hiring for both Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Between 2017 and 2021, around 15 billion dollars was spent to build 452 miles of border wall. But the cost wasn’t just financial. Families were separated, asylum seekers were stranded in dangerous conditions across the border, and disturbing reports surfaced about abuse in detention centers. These policies fueled a growing stigma around immigrants, particularly Mexican Americans, and created long-lasting humanitarian concerns.

Now, in 2025, Trump has picked up right where he left off. The eight executive orders he signed are not just a continuation but an expansion of his earlier agenda. The first one, titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” adds more vetting to the visa process. People from countries labeled “high-risk” could face extreme delays or outright bans, even if they are already in the US. The system will likely get more backed up, creating even more uncertainty and stress for applicants trying to reunite with family or continue their lives here.

The second order, “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” attempts to reinterpret the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on US soil. Under this new definition, children born in the US might no longer qualify as citizens if their parents are undocumented or here on a temporary visa. It’s a move that strikes at one of the most fundamental principles of American identity and has left many families afraid and confused about their children's future.

The third executive order, “Securing Our Borders and Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border,” paints immigrants as dangerous, even labeling them as potential terrorists and criminals. It calls for more wall construction, more surveillance, and more armed agents. It also ends humanitarian programs like the CBP One app and parole pathways for migrants from countries like Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. For families seeking safety, this means longer wait times, more red tape, and fewer options. People arriving at ports of entry should now expect heightened scrutiny and be ready to present extensive documentation, even just to stay with their loved ones.

The fourth order, “America First Trade Policy,” puts US trade deals back under review, including the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The goal is to ensure these deals align with Trump’s nationalistic agenda, though it will likely strain international partnerships and disrupt the US economy.

The fifth order, “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” expands the use of expedited deportations and allows state and local police to enforce immigration laws. It also wipes out a number of Biden-era policies that aimed to make the immigration system more humane, including programs focused on family reunification and protections for asylum seekers. Immigrants are now at higher risk of being stopped and questioned about their status, even during everyday encounters, raising serious concerns about racial profiling and civil rights violations.

The sixth order, “Guaranteeing the States Protections Against Invasion,” bars nearly all migrants, including asylum seekers, from entering at the southern border by invoking a constitutional clause originally meant to protect states from military threats. Legal experts expect challenges in court, as the order contradicts long-standing US asylum law.

The seventh order suspends the United States Refugee Admissions Program altogether. Started January 27, 2025, refugee status applications are frozen indefinitely, leaving countless people in limbo as they wait for DHS to determine whether the program will even resume.

Finally, the eighth order revokes 78 executive actions from the Biden administration. Among them are key policies that were designed to reunite separated families, restore refugee resettlement, and build a more fair and welcoming immigration system. With one stroke of the pen, years of progress have been undone.

Together, these executive orders send a chilling message: that enforcement and exclusion take priority over compassion and justice. They revive and deepen many of Trump’s most controversial policies from his first term, creating fear and instability for millions. For the immigrant communities impacted, these changes are not just legal, they are deeply personal. They affect whether families can stay together, whether someone can feel safe walking down the street, or whether a child born in the US will be recognized as an American. As these orders take effect, they will shape not only immigration policy but the lived reality of countless people across the country.