What Do Trump’s Executive Orders Call For?

By Sabrina Hernandez & Emma Buckhout

	LAWG Interns Anne, Elisabeth, and Sabrina hold signs at a protest against Trump’s executive orders. Photo by Anne McBride.

Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements

January 25, 2017

• Immediate construction of a physical wall along the entire southern border with Mexico.
• 5,000 additional Border Patrol agents.
• Increase of immigrant detention centers at or near the U.S. border.
• Detention of anyone who crosses the border without authorization—end “catch and release”—including asylum seekers.
• More immigration judges and detention centers to speed up immigration legal decisions and deportations.
• Encourage local law enforcement agencies to act as immigration officers.
• Work to “end the abuse of parole and asylum provisions.”
• Allow federal agents access to all federal lands.
• Prioritize criminal prosecutions.

Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States

January 25, 2017

• Change in priorities for deportation to anyone who is convicted or charged with a criminal offense, has a deportation order, or has abused public benefits (essentially dismantling enforcement priorities altogether).
• Additional 10,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
• All state and local law enforcement agencies and officers directed to perform the functions of immigration officers to the maximum legal extent.
• Stop federal funding to any “sanctuary jurisdiction.”
• End “Priority Enforcement Program” (PEP) and reinstatement of “Secure Communities” program.
• Creation of the “Office for Victims of Crimes Committed by Removable Aliens.”
• Diplomatic relations conditioned on countries accepting deportees.

Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States*

March 6, 2017

• Suspension of U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days, including Central America Minors (CAM) Program and Costa Rica Protection Transfer Agreement (PTA).
• Cap of 50,000 on refugee admissions for FY 2017, which would reduce slots for refugees from Latin America.
• Suspension of Visa Interview Waiver Program, which would decrease the accessibility to legally enter the United States.
• Complete Biometric Entry-Exit Tracking System.
• 90-day ban on the entrance for 90 days of people from 6 Muslim-majority countries—Iran, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen (original order included Iraq as well)—into the United States with potential expand the list of countries or length of the ban.

*Note: Two versions of this order have been held up in court lawsuits and are pending final decisions.