Trump’s Intensified Immigration Crackdown Targets Legal Immigrants

The Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies are increasingly impacting not only those who have violated immigration law, but also immigrants legally residing in the United States. Policies enacted over the past year, many facing legal challenges, aim to strip individuals of their legal status, potentially placing millions at risk of detention and deportation.

The “De-Legalization Campaign”

Ghita Schwarz, litigation director for the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), describes the administration’s efforts as a “great de-legalization campaign,” rendering vulnerable to detention and removal millions of people who were not unlawfully present in the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations reports that since returning to office in 2025, President Trump has pursued “the largest domestic deportation operation” in U.S. History.

Impact on Specific Immigration Categories

Refugees

Historically, refugees underwent intensive vetting before being resettled in the U.S. However, the Trump administration signed an executive order “suspending” the federal refugee program, stranding thousands abroad. BBC News notes that the administration has also issued travel bans affecting people from 39 countries, extending these bans to include refugees. In November 2025, a review of cases admitted under the Biden administration was ordered, and the administration set a refugee admission cap of 7,500 for 2026, a significant reduction from the 100,000 cap in 2024. There is a stated preference for white South Africans.

An alarming trend is the arrest and indefinite detention of refugees who have not yet received their green cards, with estimates suggesting 100,000 are at risk.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is granted to individuals from countries deemed unsafe due to war, political instability, or natural disasters. The Trump administration revoked TPS for approximately 1 million people from several countries, including Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. Lawsuits challenging these revocations are ongoing.

Advocates warn that sending TPS holders back to their home countries could put them in danger.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, established in 2012, protects undocumented individuals who arrived in the U.S. As children from deportation. Ongoing litigation and the Trump administration’s policies have placed the status of DACA recipients under stress. At least 260 DACA recipients were arrested in the past year, with 86 to 174 deported.

Asylum Seekers

The Trump administration immediately barred access to the asylum system for new arrivals upon returning to office, leading to a historic low in asylum encounters. Asylum seekers with pending applications are being arrested during routine check-ins and hearings, often resulting in detention and deportation. The administration has also secured “third country” agreements with over 20 nations to accept deportees who are not originally from those countries, with concerns raised about the safety of those returned.

Pretermission

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is increasingly using “pretermission” – a legal action allowing for the quick removal of asylum seekers to third countries without a full hearing. Immigration judges have been given expanded powers to expedite asylum case dismissals.

Victims of Crime

Immigrants who are victims of crime and assist police investigations can apply for certain visas, potentially leading to a pathway to a green card. However, ICE now has a policy allowing for the arrest, detention, and deportation of individuals with U and T visas.

Humanitarian Parole Programs

The Trump administration paused humanitarian parole programs for Ukrainians, Afghans, Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. Approximately 1 million people who entered the U.S. Through the CBP One app have had their parole status terminated.

Student and Perform Visa Holders

The administration has targeted individuals with valid student and work visas, including arresting pro-Palestinian student activists. A large-scale workplace raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia led to the arrest of 475 people and a diplomatic dispute with South Korea. The administration has also increased fees for high-skilled H-1B work visas to $100,000.