Washington: The Trump administration is intensifying immigration enforcement, targeting migrants admitted under Biden-era programs and enabling state and local authorities to play a more active role in immigration crackdowns. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman unveiled measures that could significantly reshape U.S. immigration policy.
Huffman, in a memo released on Friday, stated that immigration officials might review and potentially revoke temporary legal status for migrants who entered under President Joe Biden’s “parole” programs. The memo also provides guidance for utilizing the recently reinstated “expedited removal” process, advising officers to prioritize cases involving migrants who failed to apply for asylum within a year of their arrival.
Nationwide Expansion of Expedited Removal
Previously, expedited removal was limited to individuals apprehended within 14 days of entry and within 100 miles of the border. However, as of Tuesday, the Trump administration expanded its reach nationwide to include all migrants who entered within the past two years.
In a separate directive, Huffman invoked an immigration statute to simplify the process of deputizing state and local law enforcement to assist with immigration enforcement and detention efforts. The move is framed as a response to what Huffman described as a “mass influx” of unauthorized immigrants, though the precise implementation details remain unclear.
Policy Shifts and Legal Challenges
President Donald Trump issued multiple executive orders after his return to the White House on Monday, aimed at curbing illegal immigration and expediting deportations. These moves, he argues, are necessary following what he describes as an unprecedented wave of migration under Biden’s administration.
The Biden-era parole programs admitted approximately 1.5 million migrants between 2022 and 2024, according to government data. These programs facilitated legal entry for specific groups, including Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, contingent upon U.S. sponsorship and background checks. Trump terminated these programs on Monday, leaving many migrants stranded in Mexico with uncertain futures.
Critics, including Democratic leaders and advocacy groups, warn that these measures may disproportionately affect non-criminals, disrupt businesses, and fracture families. The immigrant advocacy group Make the Road New York filed a lawsuit on Wednesday to challenge the expanded use of expedited removal.
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Rising Enforcement and Local Backlash
On Thursday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted 500 arrests, a third of which involved individuals with no criminal records, according to Fox News. This marked a sharp increase from the agency’s daily arrest averages in recent years.
In Newark, New Jersey, Democratic Mayor Ras Baraka condemned an ICE operation for allegedly detaining U.S. citizens and a military veteran. Baraka stated, “It’s a slippery slope when we think it’s OK to suspend the Constitution of the United States in order to make a political point or statement.” The mayor also criticized ICE for entering a business without a warrant.
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Amy Torres, Executive Director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, described the operation as heavily armed and alarming. “Officers terrified employees and banged on bathroom doors to ensure no one was hiding,” Torres said.
