Overview
President-elect Donald Trump outlined a series of policies aimed at addressing illegal immigration, including potential mass deportations, repealing birthright citizenship, and implementing tariffs to pressure Mexico and Canada to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking. His stance highlights immigration as a central issue of his 2024 campaign.
Why It Matters
Ensuring the integrity of immigration laws is crucial to maintaining national security, protecting American workers, and addressing the rise in illegal crossings under the Biden administration.
Who It Impacts
These policies will directly affect illegal immigrants, their families, law enforcement, and U.S. taxpayers who bear the costs of an overwhelmed immigration system.
In a wide-ranging interview, President-elect Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to strict immigration policies, outlining measures aimed at curbing illegal immigration and reinforcing border security. Trump stated that mass deportations would be a priority for his administration, emphasizing the need to enforce laws and regulations. When asked about children in the United States legally whose parents are undocumented, Trump maintained that families would need to adhere to immigration laws. “We have to have rules and regulations,” he said.
Trump proposed repealing birthright citizenship via executive action, a move that would eliminate automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents. He argued that such a change would restore fairness to the immigration process, highlighting the struggles of individuals who follow legal pathways to citizenship. This proposal has already drawn criticism, with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) signaling potential legal challenges.
The president-elect also prioritized deporting illegal immigrants with criminal records, echoing policies from his first term. “We have to get the criminals out of our country,” Trump said, noting that deportations would begin with those convicted of crimes before expanding to others who entered the country unlawfully. For families separated at the border during his first term, Trump stated that his administration would implement a more humane approach, opting to deport entire families together when feasible.
Trump’s immigration policies also include combating drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, a growing concern among U.S. voters. In late November, Trump warned Canada and Mexico of 25 percent tariffs on imported goods if they failed to take meaningful steps to address illegal immigration and drug smuggling. His warnings prompted swift responses: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss border security, while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced measures to curb migrant caravans and revealed the largest fentanyl bust in the nation’s history.
Under the Biden administration, illegal border crossings surged, becoming a pressing issue for American voters. Trump criticized the current administration’s policies, promising to restore control over the immigration system and protect U.S. communities from the impacts of unchecked migration and drug smuggling. His tough stance, combined with efforts to hold neighboring countries accountable, signals a return to the hardline immigration approach that defined his first term.
Trump’s immigration plan underscores his broader vision for national security and sovereignty. By prioritizing the enforcement of immigration laws, addressing criminal activity, and pressuring foreign governments to cooperate, he aims to reassert control over America’s borders and restore faith in the rule of law.
