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The second Trump administration has moved quickly to implement its campaign promises on immigration, issuing a series of executive orders aimed at tightening border security, curbing illegal immigration, and enhancing interior enforcement. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced complementary legislative proposals for his state, positioning Florida as a key player in supporting these federal efforts.

Highlights of the New Executive Orders

  1. National Emergency Declaration at the Southern Border

President Trump declared a national emergency to mobilize the U.S. military, expedite border wall construction, and bolster surveillance through drones and advanced technology. This measure aims to deter illegal crossings and improve border integrity.

  1. Designation of Drug Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations

The administration has classified drug cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations.” This designation will facilitate more robust measures against their operations and may influence broader immigration enforcement actions.

  1. End of Humanitarian Parole Programs

The administration continues to affirm plans to terminate programs that had provided legal pathways for migrants from countries like Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, as well as similar programs for Afghans, Ukrainians, and other groups. This signals a shift away from temporary humanitarian admissions and toward stricter immigration controls.

  1. Changes to Asylum and Refugee Policies

The executive orders aim to end “catch and release” practices and significantly restrict asylum rights, reducing the ability of migrants to seek protection upon arrival. These measures may face legal challenges claiming they are inconsistent with existing U.S. and international law.

Additionally, the administration intends to suspend the refugee resettlement program for four months. The refugee resettlement program has, for several decades, allowed hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war and persecution to come to the United States. President Trump similarly suspended the refugee program at the beginning of his first term, and, after reinstating it, significantly reduced the number of refugees admitted annually.

  1. Enhanced Interior Enforcement

Key actions include reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy, expanding the 287(g) program—which deputizes state and local officials as federal immigration enforcement agents—and issuing financial penalties to sanctuary cities that do not cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Both actions reflect the Trump administration’s campaign promise to crack down on illegal immigration and carry out mass deportations.

  1. End Birthright Citizenship

One of the key announcements is the effort to end birthright citizenship—one of President Trump’s most ambitious immigration efforts. Birthright citizenship ensures that anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. Trump’s effort to end it is expected to face legal challenges.

  1. Reaffirming the 2017 ‘Buy American and Hire American’ Executive Order in the America First Trade Policy

During the first Trump Administration the government was directed to focus on ensuring that policies favored domestic workers. This has ramifications in business immigration policy and workplace enforcement.

Florida’s Role in Supporting Federal Immigration Goals

Gov. DeSantis has proposed legislation designed to align Florida’s state policies with the Trump administration’s federal immigration priorities. These include:

  • Maximum Participation in the 287(g) Program: Florida will mandate compliance from local officials, imposing penalties for non-compliance.
  • State Crime for Illegal Entry: The legislation creates a state offense for illegal entry, coupled with a self-deportation mechanism.
  • Unauthorized Alien Transport Program (UATP): Expansion of this program will facilitate the detention and deportation of unauthorized individuals.
  • Repeal of In-State Tuition for Undocumented Students: This move underscores a stricter approach to benefits extended to unauthorized residents.
  • Voter Registration Reforms: Measures will ensure identity verification and impose severe penalties for voter fraud.
  • Restrictions on Financial Transfers: New rules will require identity verification for foreign remittance transfers, aiming to reduce potential misuse.

Implications and Challenges

These sweeping changes represent a hardline stance on immigration and signal a shift toward aggressive enforcement measures. However, these policies are expected to face legal and logistical challenges:

  • Legal Challenges: Immigration and civil rights organizations are likely to challenge the restrictions on asylum, the national emergency declaration, and other measures.
  • Operational Coordination: Effective implementation of expanded 287(g) programs and deportation initiatives will require coordination between federal, state, and local agencies.
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Photo of Laura Foote Reiff ‡ Laura Foote Reiff ‡

Laura Foote Reiff has more than 35 years of experience representing businesses and organizations in the business immigration and compliance field. She is also a business immigration advocate and has long chaired prominent business immigration coalitions. Laura is Co-Founder of GT’s Business and

Laura Foote Reiff has more than 35 years of experience representing businesses and organizations in the business immigration and compliance field. She is also a business immigration advocate and has long chaired prominent business immigration coalitions. Laura is Co-Founder of GT’s Business and Immigration and Compliance Group which she co-led since 1999. She currently Co-Chairs the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice’s International Employment, Immigration & Workforce Strategies group and chairs the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. Immigration and Compliance Practice. Laura is also Co-Managing Shareholder of the Northern Virginia Office of GT, a position she has held since 2010. As a global leader in the business immigration community, Laura has served on the Boards of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the American Immigration Council, the America is Better Board. She is currently on the Board of the National Immigration Forum and chairs the US Chamber of Commerce Immigration Subcommittee.

Laura advises corporations on a variety of compliance-related issues, particularly related to Form I-9 eligibility employment verification matters. Laura has been involved in audits and internal investigations and has successfully minimized monetary exposure as well as civil and criminal liabilities on behalf of her clients. She develops immigration compliance strategies and programs for both small and large companies. Laura performs I-9, H-1B and H-2B compliance inspections during routine internal reviews, while performing due diligence (in the context of a merger, acquisition or sale) or while defending a company against a government investigation. She works closely with Exchange Visitor Programs on Designation, Change in Control and Compliance.

Laura’s practice also consists of managing business immigration matters and providing immigration counsel to address the visa and work authorization needs of U.S. and global personnel including professionals, managers and executives, treaty investors/ traders, essential workers, persons of extraordinary ability, corporate trainees, and students. She is an immigration policy advocacy expert and works on immigration reform policies.

Laura represents many businesses in creating, managing and using “Regional Centers” that can create indirect jobs toward the 10 new U.S. jobs whose creation can give rise to EB-5 permanent residence for investment. She coordinates this work with attorneys practicing in securities law compliance, with economists identifying “targeted employment areas” and projecting indirect job creation, and with licensed securities brokers coordinating offerings. She also represents individual investors in obtaining conditional permanent residence and in removing conditions from permanent residence.

 Admitted in the District of Columbia and Maryland. Not admitted in Virginia. Practice limited to federal immigration practice.

Photo of Rebecca B. Schechter ‡ Rebecca B. Schechter ‡

Rebecca Schechter focuses her practice on business immigration and compliance, representing multi-national corporations midsized companies, and startups, as well as individual clients. She has experience with all areas of employment-based immigration, particularly H-1B, L-1, O-1 and E-2 petitions, as well as outstanding researcher…

Rebecca Schechter focuses her practice on business immigration and compliance, representing multi-national corporations midsized companies, and startups, as well as individual clients. She has experience with all areas of employment-based immigration, particularly H-1B, L-1, O-1 and E-2 petitions, as well as outstanding researcher petitions and labor certification applications. Rebecca regularly assists GT clients with global immigration matters, including business and work visas to countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. She also works on state and federal I-9 and E-Verify audits. Rebecca has a thorough understanding of third party contractor issues and experience handling complex naturalization, deportation defense, family and employment-based adjustment applications.

Admitted in Maryland and Connecticut. Not admitted in Virginia. Practice limited to federal immigration practice.