While Trump may not have gotten his ban, he certainly isn’t going to let that stop him from cracking down on immigration. According to The New York Times, the Department of Homeland Security is planning on rolling out drastic changes based on Trump’s newest executive order. In a set of documents released Tuesday, several government agencies are gearing up for inensified focus on illegal immigration, led by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. Not only does he want his wall to keep people out, Trump also wants to make it REALLY hard for the undocumented immigrants who are already here.
The polices include a widespread plan to crack down on “abuses” in which minors who come into the country by themselves receive protection, even when they have a parent living legally in the U.S. And while the government was previously focused on deporting undocumented immigrants who committed violent offenses, the new reforms seem to show that immigration agents will now have the power to detain and deport those who commit ANY criminal offense. The documents also detail an expedited deportation process. Prior to the Trump administration, the only people expedited were those who were in the country less than two weeks and were within 100 miles of the border. Under the new plans, anyone who has been in the U.S. for less than two years is eligible for expedited deportation. Obama was known as the Deporter-In-Chief, but his administration was never this hard on immigration.
In order to accomodate these new policies, the relevant agencies will have to add more resources. ICE, will likely have to add 10,000 agents while Border Patrol estimates they will have to add up to 5,000 new agents. There are also plans to expand and create more detention facilities to accomodate the sheer volume of immigrants. Local law enforcement officers would also have the power to enforce immigration policy.
Additionally, the administration plans to add an office to aid families whose loved ones were killed by undocumented immigrants, according to the Times. Authorities will also be able to prosecute parents who smuggle their children into the country. Despite these sweeping reforms, DREAMers, or people who were brought into the U.S. illegally as children, seem secure. The Department of Homeland Security has said they will be unaffected.Â
As with any Trump rollout, there is already opposition mounting from pro-immigration activists and sanctuary cities. Meanwhile, CNN reports confusion among many politicians and agents alike. But the Department of Homeland Security seems committed to these new policies.
According to NBC, the documents are currently under interagency and White House review. However, if approved, the Times reports, these programs would roll out relatively slowly to make sure everything’s done right.