In his first year after returning to the White House, President Donald J. Trump has fundamentally reshaped U.S. immigration policy, enacting some of the most sweeping changes seen in decades and triggering broad debate over their social, economic and political effects.
WEBDESK | ACT GLOBAL MEDIA | JANUAY 18, 2026
Deep Enforcement and Policy Shifts
President Trump’s renewed focus on immigration has followed through on key campaign pledges to tighten border security, reduce unauthorized entries and accelerate deportations. Border crossings have fallen sharply from mid-2024 levels, while immigration enforcement inside the United States has intensified. More immigrants — including many without criminal records — are being held in detention and removed from the country.
A major factor underlying these developments has been a large federal budget package — often dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — which allocated unprecedented funding for immigration enforcement, detention capacity and border infrastructure. The law is designed to expand the ability of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to detain and remove undocumented migrants.
At the same time, the administration has tightened legal immigration pathways — including stricter requirements for visa issuances and expanded vetting — and paused immigrant visa processing for citizens of dozens of countries under newly framed “public charge” rules.
Another part of the enforcement push has been the expansion of ICE operations under initiatives such as Operation Metro Surge and localized actions like Operation Salvo in New York City. These campaigns aim to identify and remove undocumented immigrants in interior U.S. communities, not just at the southern border.
Impact on Migration Patterns and Demography
Experts note that these policy actions are contributing to a historic downturn in U.S. immigration. For the first time in decades, estimates suggest net migration may have turned negative — meaning more people left the country in 2025 than entered it. This shift contrasts sharply with the sustained immigration growth seen throughout the 2010s and early 2020s and has important implications for the U.S. labour force and economy.
Restrictions on legal pathways and tougher enforcement have also sparked widespread debate over their effects on families, businesses and community cohesion, with critics arguing that the policies undermine long-standing systems for asylum, family reunification, and economic mobility.
Domestic Response and Political Debate
Across the United States, reactions to these changes are sharply divided. Supporters — including many Republican lawmakers — argue that reducing unauthorized immigration and securing borders restores law and order and addresses longstanding concerns over social services and labour competition.
Opponents, meanwhile, contend that the policies erode the nation’s tradition as a destination for immigrants and refugees, damage economic growth by shrinking the labour force, and strain civil liberties. Prominent critics also highlight rising public opposition to ICE tactics following high-profile incidents, pointing to growing calls for reform or even dismantling parts of the immigration enforcement apparatus.
