President Donald Trump wasted no time enacting sweeping immigration reforms on his first day back in the White House. On Monday, Trump signed executive orders declaring a national emergency at the southern border, shutting down the CBP One app used for legal entry, and beginning the legal process to end birthright citizenship.
These actions mark a return to Trump’s hardline immigration stance. Key measures include:
- National Border Emergency: Trump announced the deployment of Pentagon resources and armed forces to complete the border wall and enforce southern border security.
- CBP One Shutdown: The termination of the app, which allowed migrants to schedule legal entry appointments, effectively closes the border to asylum seekers.
- Targeting Cartels: Trump designated cartels, including MS-13, as foreign terrorist organizations, enabling more aggressive removal efforts under the Alien Enemies Act.
- “Remain in Mexico” Policy: The reinstated policy forces migrants to wait in Mexico while their U.S. immigration proceedings take place, contingent on Mexico’s cooperation.
Trump’s executive order aims to reinterpret the 14th Amendment to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. This move is expected to face legal challenges and may ultimately require constitutional clarification by the courts.
The president has also paused refugee resettlement for at least four months. Additionally, Trump directed the attorney general to pursue capital punishment for crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, including the murder of law enforcement officers.
Trump’s administration has signaled that this time, executive actions were crafted with legal durability in mind. Lessons learned from court challenges during his first term have reportedly led to more meticulous planning.
Homeland Security officials warn that the shutdown of CBP One could lead to increased illegal crossings as migrants, now without legal pathways, attempt to enter the U.S.
“They have nothing to go back to. My bet is a good chunk of them are going to try to cross,” said one Homeland Security official.
Trump inherits a quieter border compared to the Biden administration, which faced record migrant crossings. In December 2024, the U.S. Border Patrol recorded 47,300 encounters — a sharp decline from 71,000 in December 2020 during Trump’s first term.
Immigration advocates are preparing legal challenges to Trump’s orders while expressing concern over their humanitarian impact. Critics argue that shutting down asylum pathways will exacerbate the crisis at the southern border.
With Trump’s return to a strict immigration agenda, the nation braces for significant legal battles and their consequences for migrants and communities across the U.S.