Shares

By: Nathaniel J. Greene, Community & Culture Reporter

In a recent briefing hosted by Ethnic Media Services, experts delved into the potential changes to the U.S. immigration system under a second Trump administration. The discussion was rooted in the comprehensive document produced by the Heritage Foundation, outlining over 175 changes to immigration policy. These plans, described as more ambitious and far-reaching than those during Trump’s first term, could have profound effects on immigrants, American citizens, and the economy.

Cecilia Esterline, an Immigration Research Analyst at the Niskanen Center, highlighted the severity of the proposed changes.

“The Heritage Foundation has published regular iterations of their mandate for leadership for over 40 years. The most recent iteration includes detailed policy reforms across all agencies and all levels of the federal government,” Esterline explained.

She emphasized that these policies abandon traditional conservative values such as supporting business growth and decentralizing power. Instead, they propose creating “across-the-board impediments to a functioning legal immigration system, introducing processing delays, and other administrative hurdles.”

Esterline further noted that “under the next conservative administration, no updates should be issued, which would essentially grind the program to a halt except in very limited exceptional services like circumstances.” This would have a devastating impact on industries reliant on temporary seasonal visas.

Enforcing Radical Reforms

David J. Bier, Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute, provided a historical perspective, indicating that many of these proposed changes are reminiscent of those attempted during Trump’s first term.

“Almost all of those proposals are going to come back and be reimplemented in some form,” Bier stated. He pointed out that the refugee program, which was significantly reduced under Trump, could face even more drastic cuts. “The president sets the cap and can set it at zero if he wants. I don’t expect it quite to be zero, but we saw the smallest caps in history under Trump.”

Bier also discussed the potential for military involvement in immigration enforcement, which he described as “flagrantly unconstitutional.” He warned that logistical obstacles, legal challenges, and constitutional issues would make the implementation of these plans extremely difficult. “You cannot use the military for civilian law enforcement,” he said, emphasizing the legal limitations on such actions.

The Broader Implications

Zachary Mueller, Senior Research Director for America’s Voice Education Fund, discussed the broader political and social implications of these proposed changes. He emphasized the extreme nature of the agenda, describing it as a threat to American democracy.

“Trump’s immigration agenda presents three threats: mass deportation, political violence, and a threat to American democracy,” Mueller asserted. He highlighted the potential for increased political violence and the use of white nationalist rhetoric in mainstream political discourse.

Mueller elaborated on the connection between the immigration agenda and the broader political strategy. “Trump and Republicans are creating a backup plan if the immigrant demagoguery fails to deliver them the electoral college victory in November,” he explained. This plan involves promoting the baseless myth of non-citizen voting and setting the stage for questioning the legitimacy of election results.

Conclusion

The proposed changes to the U.S. immigration system under a potential second Trump administration represent a significant departure from both current policies and traditional conservative values. With the potential for massive deportations, significant legal and constitutional challenges, and broader implications for American democracy, these proposals demand careful scrutiny. As Esterline aptly put it, “The threat of these policies being the foundation for a potential second term is very real.” The coming months will undoubtedly see continued debate and analysis as the nation grapples with the future of its immigration system.

4o