President-elect Donald Trump is preparing to take significant executive actions on his first day in office to bolster immigration enforcement and dismantle several legal entry initiatives established by President Joe Biden, according to three sources who spoke with Reuters.
These actions would grant federal immigration officers broader authority to detain individuals without criminal backgrounds, deploy additional troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, and resume construction of the border wall, sources revealed.
Trump is also expected to terminate Biden’s humanitarian programs that allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter legally in recent years, while encouraging those with expired statuses to depart voluntarily. According to Mark Morgan, an immigration official from Trump’s first term, these actions will initiate Trump’s broader immigration agenda, which aims for record deportation numbers of undocumented immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in 2022, and some cities receiving large numbers, such as New York and Chicago, have struggled to manage the influx.
After defeating Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump campaigned on claims that the Biden administration allowed excessive illegal immigration. His team is still in the early stages of planning, so details may change before inauguration on Jan. 20. Trump’s spokesperson did not comment. Although illegal crossings decreased significantly due to recent Biden administration policies and Mexico’s enforcement efforts, Trump plans to lower them further using a comprehensive approach for widespread arrests and deportations. Trump has appointed Tom Homan, former ICE Director, as the new “border czar” and may bring back Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff for policy, reinforcing a central focus on immigration.
Trump’s plans are expected to face legal challenges from Democratic-led states, the ACLU, and pro-immigration groups. Among his initial executive orders is one on “interior enforcement,” directing the arrest and detention of undocumented immigrants regardless of criminal background. This move would remove Biden-era guidance that prioritized deportation of those with serious criminal records. The new order would primarily target individuals with felony charges or those who have exhausted legal appeals to stay, though officers would still have discretion to apprehend other undocumented individuals. Over a million immigrants with finalized deportation orders would also be prioritized.
In addition, Trump is expected to target specific groups on the day, such as international students with ties to Hamas or other militant groups who have violated visa terms, according to two sources. Deportations may involve military aircraft and interagency support, sources noted.
Another directive would address border security by sending National Guard troops and declaring illegal immigration a national emergency to fund border wall construction, with Arizona’s Democratic-led opposition as a possible priority target.
Trump also intends to terminate Biden’s temporary humanitarian “parole” programs on first day, which have granted legal entry and work authorization to many migrants. These include a program for migrants with U.S. sponsors and an app-based appointment system for border crossings from Mexico. Those with expired parole status may have an option to voluntarily leave and seek lawful admission later without penalty. Trump is also expected to consult with Mexico on resuming the “Remain in Mexico” program, which requires non-Mexican asylum seekers to await U.S. decisions from within Mexico.
