Donald Trump’s hardline anti-immigrant agenda has sparked fresh alarm amongst immigrant communities as America paves a path towards the 2024 presidential election. Since taking office, the former president has relentlessly pursued policies that sought to reduce immigration and asylum-seeking, stoking fear and uncertainty amongst those looking for a home in the United States.
The raft of restrictive measures included an array of policies that have sought to erase the presence of immigrants from the fabric of American society. These included plans to roll back DACA protections for Dreamers, an amendment to the 63-year-old Flores settlement agreement that had enabled the Department of Homeland Security to detain migrant children, and a cruel ‘remain in Mexico’ policy that left some asylum-seekers in limbo. Furthermore, the rulebook for asylum-seeking was tightened and the message was clear: anyone seeking refuge from persecution outside the US should not expect a safe haven.
The Trump administration also advanced an economic agenda rooted in restriction rather than protection. Alongside a ban on travel from a number of predominantly Muslim countries, Trump extended the ‘public charge’ rule, which saw immigrants being denied entry for their lack of economic clout. This was further compounded by the introduction of a ‘wealth test’, which sought to reject applicants who did not possess the financial heft to be welcomed into the United States. Immigration via family reunion was also heavily constrained, with the punishment for visa overstays harshly imposed.
Despite Trump’s departure from the White House, his legacy of restriction and exclusion continues to cast a long shadow over the immigrant community. There is a prevailing sense of foreboding amongst many foreign-born residents looking towards 2024, as the realisation takes hold that a similarly stringent immigration policy may yet prevail under a new administration.
With the issue expected to form a key battleground in the upcoming election, the stakes for America’s immigrant communities could hardly be higher. While there is hope that America’s immigration system will be overhauled to embrace all those seeking a safe haven away from home, only time will tell. Having suffered under Trump’s anti-immigrant onslaught, one thing is certain: the United States must now progress to a future that is both progressive and welcoming.