This Wednesday, April 30 will mark 100 days of the Trump Administration. In those 100 days, the administration will have transformed the immigration laws and policies of this country– from a nation that welcomed immigrants of many backgrounds, to policies of exclusion and fear.
The changes and attempted changes wrought in this 100 days are staggering, including:
- Attempted to end birthright citizenship
- Terminated Temporary Protected Status early for several countries
- Ended the refugee resettlement program
- Created significantly more obstacles to applying for asylum
- Allowed ICE to enter schools, hospitals, houses of worship and other protected spaces
- Involved the IRS in immigration enforcement
- Created a registration mechanism for immigrants, targeting undocumented immigrants for immigration enforcement
- Ended the CHNV and CBPOne programs/ terminated parole status
- Paused the adjudication of green card applications for asylees and refugees
- Issued an Executive Order targeting immigration attorneys
- Deported immigrants to third countries such as El Salvador
- Tripled the number of 287(g) agreements to deputize local law enforcement to carry out immigration enforcement
- Revoked student visas
- Arrested students for their speech
- Deported immigrants without due process
- Encouraged immigrants to self-deport
- Threatened to eliminate federal funding for state, cities and municipalities that do not fully comply with immigration enforcement
- Expanded the number of detention centers and beds across the country, including transferring detainees to Guantanamo
And yet, the administration has not begun to effectuate the “mass deportations” that Trump threatened on the campaign trail. In fact, fewer deportations have occurred under this administration than during the same period under Biden. Rather, the administration seems to be counting on creating an unlivable culture of fear and xenophobia to drive immigrants to return to their countries of origin. This is bad for our communities, our workplaces, and our economy.
And of course, many of these attempted policy changes are currently being challenged through lawsuits and may not ultimately become the law.
MIRA has spoken up time and again through these 100 days, and will continue to do so through to the end of this administration. With partners, we will be documenting these harms at a press conference: 100 Days of Harm, this Tuesday April 29 in front of the JFK Federal Building.