In a sweeping set of actions, President Donald Trump has signed numerous executive orders aimed at reshaping the U.S. immigration landscape. Among these changes are new directives for asylum seekers and a potential challenge to the principle of birthright citizenship.
From altering the nomenclature of the Gulf of Mexico to invoking historical wartime powers, Trump’s inaugural day was marked by significant activity. “I will declare a national emergency at our southern border,” he announced during his inauguration speech, promising to halt illegal entry and repatriate “millions and millions of criminal aliens.”
Key shifts in policy focus on immigration and asylum procedures. Kathleen Bush-Johnson from the Migration Policy Institute noted the administration’s preparedness to expand expedited removal, a process which previously saw limited application during Trump’s first term but could see broader implementation now.
A rule introduced under President Joe Biden in 2024, which facilitates expedited removal for many apprehended between ports of entry, remains in effect. This policy has already impacted thousands.
In a notable move, President Trump has also terminated the CBP One app, a government platform designed to assist asylum seekers at the border. This abrupt decision follows the signing of the executive orders.
Doris Meissner, director at the Migration Policy Institute, suggests that more substantial policy changes will unfold over time. One affected program, initiated by former President Biden, allowed certain foreign nationals to temporarily reside and work in the U.S. This program is now set to be discontinued for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.
Despite the declaration of a border emergency, the Trump administration inherits a period of low crossings. Meissner commented on the stable conditions at the southwest border, noting the lowest illegal crossing levels since pre-Biden years.
However, the change has left many in limbo. Asylum seekers who had been waiting in Mexico for orderly crossing opportunities face heightened uncertainty, with fears escalating due to policy shifts.
Approximately 280,000 individuals in Mexico had anticipated using the CBP One app for asylum appointments, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. At the Kino Border Initiative shelter in Nogales, Sonora, migrants watched Trump’s inauguration speech, their hopes for scheduled appointments now dashed.
Jeanderlin, a 25-year-old from Venezuela, had travelled with her family to Mexico for an appointment scheduled on January 16. However, due to a kidnapping incident, she missed her appointment, and upon arrival, was informed it had been canceled.
With her appointment no longer valid and the CBP One program terminated, Jeanderlin expressed her fears and uncertainty. Aid volunteer Alejandro Nava, stationed at the DeConcini Port of Entry, highlighted the abrupt nature of the program’s cancellation, noting that some appointments were ongoing even as the app was shut down.
“Today feels quite sad,” said Nava, reflecting on the unexpected speed of the changes. Aid organizations in Nogales now brace for an influx of individuals who were in transit to their appointments, anticipating several hundred arrivals in the coming week.
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