In a September campaign rally in Wisconsin, Donald Trump declared his intentions for immigration policies under a potential new administration:
"On day one of my new administration, I will stop all migrant flights. I will shut down all entries through the migrant phone app. I will end catch-and-release. I will restore Remain in Mexico ... we will seal the border," he said.
However, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who has been collaborating with Trump on border issues, suggested to Newsweek that implementing such policies would take time.
"We'll probably take a little bit of time to reinstate [Remain in Mexico] because you have to negotiate that with the government of Mexico, but I believe they will do that as well, and we will see the numbers plummet," Cruz said in an interview.
When asked for comment, Trump’s transition team did not respond. Cruz, whose own campaign emphasized border security, remains optimistic about Trump’s plans. He noted that early actions would include ending "catch-and-release" policies and beginning construction on the border wall.
The "Remain in Mexico" policy, formally known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), was introduced during Trump's presidency in 2019. It required asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while awaiting case decisions. President Biden paused the policy in early 2021 and officially terminated it in June that year, though legal battles temporarily revived it later. By December 2022, Biden successfully ended MPP, despite ongoing challenges for migrants at the border.
Critics of MPP argued it exposed asylum seekers to unsafe conditions and increased their vulnerability to exploitation. Cruz, however, supports reinstating the policy and implementing mass deportations to reduce cartel-driven crimes and human trafficking. "We will also see the revenue that the cartels are earning go down significantly," he claimed. Cruz sharply criticized the Biden administration's handling of the border, alleging that its policies have empowered criminal organizations.
In response to growing concerns about crimes involving undocumented immigrants, Cruz proposed legislation titled "Justice for Jocelyn." Named after a 12-year-old victim of a gang-related crime, the bill seeks mandatory detention of undocumented immigrants apprehended in the U.S. Cruz argues this policy could prevent similar tragedies.
However, human rights advocates and immigration experts remain skeptical. Amy Fisher of Amnesty International USA emphasized the need for policies that address root causes and provide safe pathways for migrants. "Instead of shaming people who are trying to save their lives, the United States must change course and invest in policies that work to curb the chaos and uplift communities," she said.
The U.S. immigration system faces significant challenges, including a backlog of 3.7 million cases in immigration courts and limited detention capacity of around 38,000 to 40,000 people at a time. Mass deportations, according to Syracuse University political science professor Audie Klotz, would require immense resources, potentially costing over $1 trillion over a decade.
Border crossings have surged since Biden took office, peaking in 2023 after the expiration of Title 42 restrictions. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 3.2 million encounters that year, compared to the previous high of 1.4 million during Trump’s administration in 2019. By October 2024, CBP recorded 143,050 crossings, underscoring ongoing challenges at the southern border.
Experts suggest that while executive orders could immediately shift some policies, broader changes such as mass deportations and large-scale detention would require extensive resources and time to implement.
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