President-elect Donald Trump is set to initiate a series of executive actions on immigration following his inauguration, with plans to begin as early as Monday. Since the start of his 2024 campaign, Trump has promised to tackle legal migration and increase efforts to deport individuals living in the US without legal status. 

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At a rally in Washington D.C. the previous night, Trump announced his intention to sign executive orders swiftly and launch “the most aggressive, sweeping effort to restore our borders the world has ever seen.” “Very soon, we will begin the largest deportation operation in American history,” he added.

Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming border czar, announced that large-scale raids to deport and detain individuals without legal status will begin as early as Tuesday, targeting those deemed a security or safety threat.

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“While we hope for the best, we take Trump at his word. We are prepared to fight back against any cruel or violent attacks on immigrant communities in the U.S. or those fleeing to this country in search of safety and refuge,” Kerri Talbot, co-executive director of the Immigration Hub, an advocacy organization was quotes as saying by npr.org. 

Under the Biden administration, the US experienced a rise in border crossings, at times reaching record highs. However, recent data from Customs and Border Protection shows a significant decline in unauthorized apprehensions over the last six months. With Republicans controlling the White House, Senate, and House, Trump’s immigration policies have become a top priority for Congress.

What are Donald Trump’s key promises? 

  • Declaring a national emergency to unlock federal funding and authorities for securing the border.
  • Restarting construction of the US-Mexico border wall.
  • Beginning efforts to end birthright citizenship, though Trump acknowledges this requires a constitutional amendment.
  • Reinstituting the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy, forcing certain asylum seekers to wait in Mexico until their U.S. court hearings.
  • Launching large-scale deportation operations.
  • Restoring travel bans and limiting refugee admissions and resettlements.
  • Reinstating Title 42, a public health order from Trump’s first term, enabling the expulsion of asylum seekers.

Although Trump has reiterated these promises for over a year, their implementation may take weeks or even months, with several actions facing legal challenges or needing new funding from Congress.