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OPINION JULY 04, 2025 | The Indian Eye 12

authorized by law. The order rein-
states the Migrant Protection Proto-
cols (MPP), otherwise known as ‘Re-
main in Mexico’ policy that placed
asylum seekers in Mexico till their
claims are cleared in the US. The or-
der also terminated the use of Cus-
toms and Border Protection (CBP)
One application that facilitated asy-
lum seekers to schedule inspections,
and cancel pending appointments.
It suspended all the parole pro-
grammes that did not align with
Trump’s policies, especially targeting
programmes for Haitians, Venezu-
elans, Cubans and Nicaraguans. In
addition, the order empowers the
agencies to pursue criminal charges
against non-citizens violating immi-
gration laws, and mandates the use
of DNA testing to verify family rela-
tionships amongst the detained indi-
viduals. It also encourages the use of
advanced technologies to track mi-
grants and enhance border security.
Apart from these executive or-
ders, another prominent legislative
act was passed on 29 January 2025.
The Laken Riley Act enhances im-
migration enforcement as it man- Reports note that industries like restaurant, hospitality, construction, and eldercare are suffering shortages of workers
dates the detention of undocument- due to stricter checks and mass deportations (Agency file photo)
ed immigrants charged with specific
crimes, especially the ones related to
violence or theft. Moreover, the act migration. ICE initiated Operation guing that it peddles a narrative that Reports note that industries like
rules out the possibility of bail. It af- Safeguard to detain and expel undoc- demonizes migrants and refugees. restaurant, hospitality, construction,
fects people under programmes like umented migrants, especially in ur- Furthermore, National Defense and eldercare are suffering shortag-
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) ban areas. Historically, this operation Areas (NDAs) have been estab- es of workers due to stricter checks
or Deferred Action for Childhood was associated with the management lished along the US–Mexico border and mass deportations. The adverse
Arrivals (DACA). The most contro- of US–Mexico border, multi-phase to enhance military supervision in effect of aggressive immigration
versial aspect of the act is the power enforcement strategies that include border security. National Security policies would also be visible on the
granted to states to sue the federal prevention and deterrence, target- Presidential Memorandum (NSPM- economy, with an expected US$ 30
government over the decisions of im- ed enforcement, coordination with 4) formalized their creation. This to US$ 110 billion loss as a result of
migration enforcement. As a result local law enforcement, rapid deten- memorandum grants more freedom de-growth. Despite facing backlash
of this, detention rate of ICE facili- tion and expulsion, public awareness to the US military to install surveil- from within the country and outside,
ties increased by 22 per cent within a campaigns and legal support. Under lance infrastructure and construct the administration has failed to ac-
month of passing of the act. this operation, nearly 23,000 arrests border barriers. commodate the grievances of the
While Trump is curbing immi- and 18,000 operations were made by The administration claims that immigrants. The US economy may,
grant entry to protect ‘American March 2025. these actions have lowered the entry therefore, bear the negative effects
jobs’, on the other hand he has pro- Following a memorandum is- of illegal immigrants, and clears the of Trump’s immigration policies go-
posed a scheme to attract wealthy sued by President Trump, the Guan- way for ‘Make America Great Again’ ing forward, with shortage of labor
individuals. The Gold Card Residen- tanamo Migrant Operations Center initiatives by offering jobs to Ameri- and skilled workers.
cy Scheme is a proposal by Trump (GMOC) has been expanded to ac- cans. However, no effective evidence
to attract wealthy foreign investors. commodate approximately 30,000 supporting these claims has been of- Khyati Singh is a Research Analyst,
It is intended to replace the current migrants. Established in 1990s, it was fered by the administration. Instead, at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for
EB-5 immigrant investor visa. To get aimed to house small number of mi- the rigorous deportations and deter- Defense Studies and Analyses (MP-ID-
the gold card, an investment of US$ grants interdicted at sea. The mem- rent policies have curbed the labor SA), New Delhi. Her research portfolio
50 million is required. This amount orandum directs Homeland Security pool of the country. includes Cyber Security Strategy and
is intended to bring down national and Department of Defense to set The worst hit has been the North America.
debt and stimulate economic growth up additional space for “high-prior- technology sector which faces a tal- Views expressed are of the author and
through accelerated consumer ity criminal aliens” present on the ent bottleneck due to uncertainties do not necessarily reflect the views of
spending and investment. As of now, American soil. The first flight that regarding visas and work permits. the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
the scheme is still in a nascent stage transferred migrants from US to Moreover, there has been episodic Government of India.
and the first cohort is expected to be Guantanamo took place in February, incidents of migrants being treated
admitted later in 2025. and makeshifts tents were set up to like criminals, arrested, their visas This article first appeared in the
In addition to these initiatives, accommodate the large number of being called off and subjected to hu- Comments section of the website (www.
the administration also introduced detainees. This expansion has har- miliation. This has further discour- idsa.in) of Manohar Parrikar Institute
major structural changes and en- bored significant criticism, and has aged skilled immigrants to apply for for Defense Studies and Analyses, New
forcement operations to curb im- been labelled ‘cruel’, ‘immoral’, ar- green cards, or jobs in America. Delhi, on June 23, 2025

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