Trump Strengthens Immigration Policy: Data and Initial Results
Since his return to the White House on January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump has implemented a series of measures focused on immigration control. His administration has intensified security along the Mexican border, increased the arrests of undocumented immigrants, and accelerated deportations. Below is an analysis of key figures and the impact of these actions.
Border Security: Decrease in Irregular Crossings
One of Trump’s first decisions was to issue executive orders that restricted access to asylum at the southern border and reinforced military presence in the area. These measures continued some of the strategies of the previous Biden administration but with stricter enforcement.
According to official data, in February 2025, the Border Patrol recorded 8,300 arrests at the U.S.-Mexico border, the lowest level since the year 2000. Preliminary figures for March indicate a further decrease, with an average of around 7,400 arrests. In comparison, February 2024 saw 141,000 apprehensions.
Also Read: “USCIS Reaches Cap for H-2B Visas for the Second Half of Fiscal Year 2025”
Arrests and Detentions: Significant Increase
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has significantly increased the arrests of undocumented immigrants within the country. During the first three weeks of the Trump administration, approximately 14,000 detentions were recorded—double the daily average from 2024.
A notable change is ICE’s expanded focus, now including immigrants without criminal records. The number of individuals detained with no criminal history rose by 500% between January and March. Currently, ICE is holding nearly 48,000 immigrants in custody, surpassing its funded capacity of 41,500 beds.
To address this, the Trump administration is expanding detention centers, relying on private companies to increase capacity. Additionally, some migrants have been transferred to the Guantanamo naval base, raising legal concerns.
Deportations: Challenges and New Strategies
Despite tougher immigration policies, the number of deportations in Trump’s first month in office stood at 37,660—below the monthly average of 57,000 recorded in the final year of the Biden administration.
The administration has taken additional steps to boost deportation numbers, including the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) extensions for over one million Venezuelans and Haitians, and the potential revocation of humanitarian parole for Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Ukrainians.
One of the most aggressive strategies has been invoking the Alien Enemies Act to expedite the removal of alleged members of Venezuelan gangs. However, this measure has been suspended by court order and is currently under litigation.
Outlook for the Coming Months
The Trump administration aims to increase the pace of deportations in the coming months as more countries agree to accept repatriated migrants. However, current figures suggest that reaching previous peak deportation levels will remain a challenge.
The full impact of these policies will become clearer in the coming months, as the outcomes of the new immigration regulations and strategies begin to take shape under the Trump administration.
From: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-early-immigration-enforcement-record-by-numbers-2025-03-04/
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