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Immigration
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Immigration
Tracker

Response Center

Real-time analysis of Trump-Vance administration actions, to support legal challenges and provide resources for the pro-democracy community.

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The Trump-Vance Administration is trying to

Detain all migrants, and cut off access to the asylum process

Let others know:

https://democracy2025.org/response-center/a4s0Bd

What we know

This is an omnibus border-related order that will result in more immigration detention and fewer people getting access to the U.S. asylum system.

Formal Name

Securing Our Borders

Status
Underway
Formal Identifier

January 20, 2025

Anticipated Impact

This order contains a number of provisions — not all of which can go into effect immediately, but all of which signal that this administration will attempt to cut off access to asylum as much as possible and to detain as many immigrants as possible. The order directs the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to build the wall and send more personnel to obtain "complete operational control" of the border, a standard that has never been met and could not be met without diverting the resources of the federal government in a drastic manner. The order also instructs the Attorney General and DHS Secretary to assign additional federal personnel to enforce immigration law. As many immigrants as possible are to be detained, instead of being allowed to litigate their immigration cases from their own communities where they have access to documents, counsel, and resources that they cannot obtain in detention. The order instructs the Secretary of State to restart Remain in Mexico and to negotiate so-called "safe third country" agreements, which require the assent of other countries. This order also ends the CBP One app, a flawed phone app that nonetheless allowed asylum seekers to go to ports of entry at assigned times, ends a parole program for citizens for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV), and signals a severe decrease in the use of parole overall. The order directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) and DHS to do more DNA testing of migrants, including of families, and to prosecute more border-related offenses. Finally, this order suggests the Administration will use Title 42's public health authority to cut off access to asylum within the next two weeks.

By the Numbers

Partner Analysis

People are fighting back

How communities are responding

Democracy 2025 and our partners are ready to counter threats to people's rights, justice, and equality in courtrooms and communities across the country. Learn more about how people and communities are responding to this harmful policy:

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Help us counter unlawful, anti-democratic actions from the Trump-Vance administration and protect people, freedom, and justice.

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