A key pillar of President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda is his pledge to carry out widespread deportations, making "mass removals" a defining feature of his administration. To support this initiative, the Department of Defense has agreed to supply military aircraft for the deportation of over 5,000 migrants detained by Border Patrol agents in San Diego and El Paso, Texas.
Just four days into Trump’s presidency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that more than 1,000 individuals had already been deported or repatriated — a sign of how swiftly his administration is acting on immigration enforcement. One of the most notable policy shifts is the nationwide expansion of expedited deportations. Previously, 
a legitimate claim. such removals were restricted to within 100 miles of the U.S. border and applied mainly to those without valid asylum claims. Under the new directive, deportations can take place anywhere in the country and apply to undocumented migrants unable to prove continuous U.S. residence for over two years.
Although deportations are not new to U.S. administrations, the pace has increased under Trump’s leadership. In fiscal year 2024, the Biden administration deported approximately 271,000 migrants, averaging 740 per day. Biden’s total of 1.5 million deportations across four years roughly matches Trump’s first-term numbers but still falls short of the 2.9 million removals during Barack Obama’s first term — often cited as a period of intense immigration enforcement.
Still, Trump’s renewed focus on large-scale deportations has sparked concerns about the human and economic toll such policies could bring. As his administration accelerates enforcement measures, both supporters and critics are closely monitoring how this sweeping crackdown may reshape America’s immigration system in the years ahead.
3. Fortifying the U.S.–Mexico Border:
The Pentagon’s recent decision to deploy 1,500 additional active-duty troops to the U.S.–Mexico border highlights the Biden administration’s continued efforts to strengthen border security and manage migration challenges. With this deployment, the total number of military personnel stationed along the southern border rises to roughly 4,000—representing a 60% increase in Army troops. These forces are tasked with supporting Border Patrol operations, including aerial surveillance using helicopters and assisting in building and maintaining physical barriers to curb illegal crossings.Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses described this 
latest deployment as only the “first phase” of a broader border security strategy, suggesting that more troop deployments could follow. While officials have yet to release specifics about upcoming “border enforcement missions,” the plan is expected to expand beyond monitoring duties to include logistical and infrastructure support.
This reinforcement mirrors earlier steps taken under President Biden, when active-duty troops were assigned to administrative and support roles ahead of the expiration of Title 42 — the pandemic-era policy that allowed authorities to quickly expel migrants on public health grounds. The end of Title 42 initially raised fears of a surge in border crossings. However, recent data indicates the opposite trend: migrant apprehensions in December 2024 dropped to approximately 47,300, down sharply from nearly 250,000 in December 2023.
Although these numbers reflect a significant decrease, they remain lower than the record highs seen during Donald Trump’s presidency — notably in May 2019, when Border Patrol recorded over 132,000 apprehensions in a single month. The decline in crossings underscores the shifting nature of U.S. border enforcement, as policy changes, international cooperation, and evolving migration patterns continue to shape how Washington manages security and humanitarian challenges at the southern frontier.
4.Halting the Processing of Migrants and Asylum Seekers:
In one of his most sweeping immigration actions to date, President Donald Trump has issued an executive order suspending the entry of all undocumented migrants into the United States. The directive instructs border patrol agents to turn away individuals at the border without granting them the opportunity to apply for asylum — a right previously protected under U.S. and international law.
The move marks a sharp escalation from previous restrictions under the Biden administration. In June 2024, President Biden implemented a temporary order that suspended asylum eligibility for migrants who entered the U.S. outside of official ports of entry or who failed to secure an appointment through the CBP One mobile application. By September, his administration expanded these restrictions even further, tightening the criteria for those eligible to apply for protection.
Trump has also ordered an immediate halt to the U.S. refugee resettlement program. During Biden’s final year in office, the U.S. had admitted more than 100,000 refugees — the highest number recorded since 1995. In addition, Trump terminated one of Biden’s hallmark humanitarian initiatives, which had permitted up to 30,000 migrants per month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the country legally under a special parole program.
Another major policy being reinstated is the controversial “Remain in Mexico” program, which was a defining feature of Trump’s first term. The policy compels non-Mexican asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims are processed in U.S. immigration courts. During Trump’s earlier presidency, the policy affected roughly 71,000 migrants, many of whom faced dangerous living conditions and exploitation by criminal networks along the border.
Meanwhile, America’s immigration court system is facing an unprecedented backlog of around 3.6 million cases, resulting in years-long delays for applicants. With Trump’s recent dismissal of several senior immigration court officials, immigration experts and advocates warn that the already strained system could grind to a near standstill. The new directives, they argue, risk leaving countless asylum seekers in limbo — stranded without legal recourse or humanitarian support.
5.Cancelling Existing Migrants’ Appointments:
One of the earliest actions taken by President Donald Trump upon assuming office was the abrupt termination of the CBP One smartphone application — a system introduced under the Biden administration to allow migrants to schedule appointments with U.S. border officials. 
The app was intended to provide an orderly, humane process for individuals fleeing violence or persecution to request entry into the country.
Following its removal, approximately 30,000 migrants who had already secured appointments were left stranded in Mexico, their scheduled meetings abruptly canceled. Government data obtained by CBS, the BBC’s U.S. partner, indicates that an additional 270,000 migrants were still waiting in Mexico for their chance to schedule an appointment through the platform.
The decision to discontinue the app has caused widespread distress among migrants, many of whom had endured long and perilous journeys to reach the border. With the cancellation, they now face uncertainty and deteriorating humanitarian conditions while they wait for clarity on the next steps.
Immigration advocates have condemned the move, warning that it strips asylum seekers of one of the few legal avenues available to request protection in the United States. In response, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s decision, calling it a serious violation of migrants’ rights and a setback for humanitarian due process at the border.
6.Construction of Migrant Shelters by Mexico and Expansion of ICE Powers:
In response to President Donald Trump’s new deportation directives, Mexico has launched an urgent effort to construct large temporary shelters across nine border cities to accommodate the expected surge of deportees. Enrique Licon, a municipal official in Ciudad Juárez—across from El Paso, Texas—told Reuters that the shelters, capable of housing thousands, would be operational within days. Describing the initiative as “unprecedented,” he noted that these facilities will provide food, medical care, and assistance with identification documents. Buses will also be available to help returning Mexican citizens travel back to their hometowns.
This initiative forms part of a broader government campaign titled “Mexico Embraces You,” designed to support deported migrants and facilitate their reintegration into society. Neighboring countries like Guatemala are also developing similar measures to assist citizens facing deportation from the United States.
Expanding the powers of ICE and carrying out raids:
However, concerns persist about whether Mexico and other Latin American nations have sufficient infrastructure and resources to handle a potential mass return of migrants. Many deportees are fleeing poverty, political unrest, and violence, raising humanitarian questions about their safety and future prospects upon return.
At the same time, President Trump has issued executive orders to significantly expand the powers of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), intensifying domestic immigration enforcement. One order reverses a long-standing restriction that barred immigration raids in “sensitive locations” such as schools, hospitals, and churches. Another expands the controversial program allowing ICE to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to carry out immigration arrests.
While large-scale raids have yet to be confirmed, reports indicate that ICE has been conducting what officials describe as “routine operations.” According to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, 538 arrests were made on Thursday alone. For comparison, during fiscal year 2024 under President Biden, ICE detained over 149,700 individuals—an average of 409 arrests per day.
Together, these moves reflect a sharp escalation in immigration enforcement under Trump’s renewed presidency, signaling a return to aggressive border control and deportation strategies that could reshape migration patterns across North America.
References:
- Bernd Debusmann Jr and Mike Wendling (2025) From snowy cities to Mexican border - trump deportations loom, BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm230ly8k1eo (Accessed: 25 January 2025).
- Can trump revoke birthright citizenship? (2025) BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7vdnlmgyndo (Accessed: 25 January 2025).
- Grant, W. (2025) ‘it’s all been so unjust’: Migrants react to Trump Border Orders, BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c17erl4v70qo (Accessed: 25 January 2025).
- Yousif, N. (2025) Six big immigration changes under trump - and their impact so far, BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyn2p8x2eyo (Accessed: 25 January 2025)
