Understand immigration changes under the new administration

The importance of good information

In uncertain times, false information spreads quickly. This can make people feel scared and confused. It is important to get facts from trusted sources, not rumors or social media. Also, think before you share information you are not certain about. 

Stricter immigration policies

President Trump has promised tougher immigration policies and stricter enforcement. You can also expect changes to how immigration applications are processed, including longer wait times, stricter rules to qualify, and higher fees for immigration benefits. 

Immigration enforcement involves multiple agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Raids, detention, and deportation

President Trump’s executive orders have expanded immigration enforcement. More people will be put into immigration court proceedings, held in immigration detention, and deported from the U.S.

• Immigration raids: ICE is carrying out immigration raids across the U.S. These raids often happen at workplaces, but they can also happen in public places like schools, hospitals, and religious centers. Raids will target undocumented immigrants, no matter how long you have lived in the country or if you have no criminal record. Even if you have lawful status, including U.S. citizenship, you may be impacted if you cannot quickly prove your status.
• ​​Quick deportations without hearings: Expedited removal now applies nationwide. If you are an undocumented immigrant who has been in the U.S. for less than two years, you can be deported without a court hearing unless an immigration officer determines you might be eligible for asylum. Officers may not ask if you are afraid to return home, so you must share this information yourself even if they don’t ask directly.
• Mandatory detention and deportation for certain crimes: the Laken Riley Act requires ICE to detain and deport undocumented people who are accused of, charged with, or admitted to crimes like burglary, theft, or shoplifting.
• Reduced local protections: The federal government plans to block local sanctuary city policies. Living in a sanctuary city may no longer offer you the same protections. 
• Involvement of local law enforcement: Police and sheriffs may now help in immigration enforcement efforts. This means that any interaction with law enforcement could lead to immigration actions against you. 
• End of “catch and release”: The government has ended the practice of releasing some immigrants from detention while they wait for court hearings. This means you may have to stay in detention until there is a final decision on your case.
• More detention centers: The government is building more detention centers, particularly near the U.S.-Mexico border. These centers often have harsh conditions, and it can be hard to access legal help. They plan to put many more people in immigration detention.
• Changes in immigration status: If you lose your immigration status and become undocumented because of recent policy changes, you will be at risk of deportation.
• Deportation without hearings for some Venezuelans: A new order allows the government to detain and deport Venezuelan nationals suspected of gang affiliation without a court hearing. This is already being challenged in court.

Immigration registration 

A new rule will require some immigrants to register with the U.S. government starting April 11, 2025. Many immigrants will already be considered registered, including those with a Green Card, parole status, a work permit (EAD), or who are in immigration court proceedings.

DHS has stated that the purpose of this rule is to identify and deport undocumented immigrants who register or pressure them to leave the U.S. on their own. If you are undocumented, registering could increase your risk of detention and deportation. Some people have misunderstood that it will help provide them a way to get a Green Card and this is not true.

Before taking any action, speak with an immigration attorney to understand the risks and your options. The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) offers good information on this topic. 

U.S. and Mexico border

Recent executive orders have made crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and seeking asylum at the border much harder. Under the law, you still have the right to seek asylum but the U.S. government has declared a national emergency at the border, with stricter rules and more enforcement.

• The CBP One app is no longer available. You can no longer use the CPB One app to schedule an appointment to present at a port of entry to seek asylum. All existing appointments have been canceled.
• Increased military and border enforcement. The U.S. has declared a national emergency at the U.S. Southern border. You should expect increased detention, use of force, military presence, expanded wall construction, and surveillance tools like drones at the border. 
• Remain in Mexico (MPP) is restarting. During the first Trump administration, this required some people seeking asylum at the southern border to stay in Mexico while waiting for their pending U.S. immigration court cases. No additional information on its implementation is known at this time.

Parole ya kibinadamu

Recent executive orders have ended or severely restricted many humanitarian parole programs. Humanitarian parole allows people to come to the U.S. temporarily for urgent reasons, like escaping danger or getting medical care. 

• USCIS has stopped accepting applications that require Form I-134A. This includes Processes for CHNV, Ukrainian parole, CAM parole, and family reunification parole.
• Processes for CHNV have ended. The sponsorship program for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela has been closed. You can no longer file new applications.
• If you currently have parole through CHNV and do not have another legal way to stay in the U.S., you must leave the country by your parole end date or by April 24, whichever comes first. All work permits and travel documents will be canceled once your parole ends. 
• The Ukrainian parole program has been paused. You can no longer file new applications. If you currently have parole through this program, watch for updates. Reports suggest existing humanitarian parole for those who entered the United States through the U4U will end. If you do not have another status, you will face deportation.
• The Afghan parole program has not been changed. No specific announcements have been made yet. This will be updated as soon as more information is available.
• Parole at the border will be extremely limited. Border officials will only grant humanitarian parole in rare emergencies, and it will be much harder to qualify. You will need strong evidence to meet the strict requirements. If you were previously eligible for parole, you may now face detention or deportation instead. 

Refugee admissions

The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), which allows refugees to resettle in the U.S., has been suspended indefinitely as of January 27th, 2025. A federal judge has since ordered the government to restart the program. Even though the program has restarted, many cases are not moving forward yet. 

• Refugee travel remains limited. While the government has been ordered to resume processing, many refugee cases are still on hold, and travel to the U.S. has not fully resumed. ​
• Follow-to-join (I-730) cases for both asylees and refugees may proceed. Follow-to-join asylee cases are being processed overseas and will be allowed to travel, but beneficiaries must now pay for their own medical exams and travel expenses. Most follow-to-join refugee cases are still on hold overseas, despite a court order to resume. Travel to the U.S. is also on hold. 
• Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders can travel. If you have an approved SIV case, you may travel to the U.S., but you must arrange and pay for your own travel.
• Private sponsorship is also closed. If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you can no longer apply to sponsor refugees through the Private Sponsorship program.
• Resettlement services impacted. Services helping newly arrived refugees and Afghan SIVs have been ordered to stop. Local resettlement agencies are seeking alternative ways of supporting new arrivals. 
• Safe Mobility Offices (SMOs) efforts have ended.

Hali ya Muda Iliyolindwa (TPS)

An executive order makes it clear that the government will review current TPS designations. They may decide not to renew protections for your country when your current status expires. This means you could lose your work authorization and protection from deportation once the expiration date passes. 

Recent changes have been made to:

• TPS Haiti
• TPS Venezuela

If you have TPS for another country, be sure to renew your TPS as soon as possible. You may also want to explore other legal options that you qualify for. You can apply for both TPS renewal and other immigration protections at the same time.

Travel ban

The Trump administration is expected to announce a new travel ban with three levels of restrictions. The final list of countries will be released soon, and changes may happen quickly.

• If you are from a country on the travel ban list and travel outside the U.S. to any country, you may not be allowed to return. This also applies to non-U.S. citizens, even if you have a valid Green Card or visa.
• If you travel to a country on the travel ban list, you may not be allowed to return to the U.S. This applies to non-U.S. citizens, including Green Card and visa holders.

Ruzuku za serikali

An executive order requested government agencies to review and stop providing benefits to people without legal status. You may lose access to public benefits if you are not authorized to receive them. Even if you are authorized to receive them, it may be more difficult to get them. Also, federal funding for local services like health care, education, or housing assistance may be reduced, which could affect the support you rely on. 

Birthright citizenship proposal

A new executive order aims to change the Constitutional rule for birthright citizenship in the United States. Birthright citizenship is the right to citizenship for all children born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parent’s immigration status.

The president’s proposal would deny citizenship to children born on or after February 19, 2025, if either of these apply:

• Their mother is unlawfully present in the U.S. and the father is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
• Their mother has lawful but temporary presence in the U.S. and the father is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

Birthright citizenship is protected by the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. There have already been many legal challenges to delay or stop this proposal from going forward. While this order instructs government agencies to take steps to implement the change, the proposed changes to birthright citizenship are not in effect. Watch for future updates on this.

Other expected changes

In addition to the Executive Orders, the Trump administration has shared additional plans in public statements. These plans are not yet certain or guaranteed but could affect many people if implemented.

• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): The administration has shared plans to end DACA or stop renewals. If you are a DACA recipient, get legal advice on renewing your status. A recent court ruling may affect this.
• Public charge: Stricter rules may return for immigrants using public benefits, making it harder to apply for legal status or admission into the United States.

What you can do now

Here are important things to consider:

1. Talk to an immigration lawyer: Find out your options for staying in the U.S.
2. Know your rights: Learn what to do if immigration officers stop you. 
   • Right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about where you were born or how you entered the U.S.
   • Right to refuse a search without a warrant signed by a judge. You can refuse a search of yourself, your home, your car, and your belongings.
   • Right to speak with an attorney. If you are detained by ICE, the government is not required to provide you with a lawyer. If you are arrested by police, you have the right to a government-appointed lawyer.
3. Make a safety plan: Be ready for situations like detention, deportation, or sudden separation from loved ones.
   • Decide who will care for your children or manage your finances.
   • Safely store and make copies of important documents like birth certificates, passports, and immigration records.
   • Carry proof of your lawful status, if applicable. Also, carry proof of residency in the U.S., such as leases, bank statements, or pay stubs, covering at least 2 years to avoid being placed in expedited removal.
   • Save contact information for a trusted lawyer and family members.
4. Call an immigration hotline: to report raids, seek help if you are detained, or report missing migrants. 
   • National Immigration Detention Hotline: 209-757-3733
   • NAKASEC hotline: 844-500-3222
   • United We Dream report a raid: 844-363-1423
5. Apply and renew for eligible benefits: Take action now to avoid losing your status or benefits.
   • Keep EAD valid and ensure status is renewed. 
   • If you are a Green Card holder eligible for citizenship, consider applying now.
   • If you are fully undocumented and not already in the DHS system, consult a lawyer first to understand the potential risks and benefits before applying.
6. Consider risks of international travel: If you are undocumented or have a pending immigration application, avoid travel that could complicate your case.
   • Ensure your visa and passport are up to date.
   • Monitor updates about travel policies that could affect you or your family. 
7. Find local help in the U.S. or help outside U.S. Remember, you are not alone. Advocates and lawyers are working hard to protect immigrant communities.
8. Protect yourself from scams: Learn how to avoid immigration scams trying to take advantage of these circumstances.
9. Take care of your mental health: Stress and fear can be a lot to handle. Find support and seek help if needed. 

Save USAHello’s 2025 Immigration Guide as a place to find regular updates. Stay informed!

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