Trump Targets Legal Immigrants in Election Campaign
Former President Donald Trump has ramped up his anti-immigrant rhetoric as he campaigns for a return to the White House, threatening to expel up to 1.3 million legal immigrants who arrived under programs established by the Biden administration. During a recent interview on Fox News, Trump announced that if elected, he would revoke the humanitarian parole and CBP One programs, which have allowed hundreds of thousands of individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the United States legally.
The humanitarian parole program, launched in 2022, permits 30,000 individuals per month to enter the U.S. with a financial sponsor, while the CBP One app facilitates asylum requests for migrants at designated ports of entry. Since their implementation, approximately 813,000 immigrants have utilized the CBP One app, and around 530,000 have benefited from the humanitarian parole program. Trump’s threats have created uncertainty and fear among these immigrant communities, many of whom have established lives in the U.S. and fear being labeled as illegal despite their legal status.
Legal Challenges and Community Impact
Trump's proposals have sparked legal and logistical challenges, with immigration advocacy groups warning that mass deportations could lead to significant distress within migrant communities. Esther Sung, legal director of the Justice Action Center, emphasized that humanitarian parole has been a tool used by both parties for decades, allowing families to reunite and individuals to escape persecution. She criticized Trump's rhetoric as extreme and harmful, stating that migrants contribute positively to the communities they join.
Additionally, Trump's chief immigration architect, Stephen Miller, has outlined strategies for implementing mass deportations, including invoking war powers and collaborating with state governors. However, experts argue that such plans would face substantial obstacles, including legal pushback and logistical difficulties. As Trump continues to campaign on a platform of strict immigration enforcement, the implications for immigrants in the U.S. remain uncertain, raising concerns about the future of immigration policy in America.
