Asylum, Border Protection, And Cartels: A Look At Trump's Expected Day One Immigration-Related Executive Orders

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to sign over dozens of executive orders on Monday, marking an assertive start to his second term and signaling a return to the signature "America First" agenda that characterized his first presidency.

Although actions span everything from energy policy, deregulation, and federal workforce reforms, a significant portion of the orders focuses on immigration, a key pillar of Trump's campaign. Here are some of the anticipated actions:

• National Emergency Declaration & Border Security: Trump is expected to declare a national border emergency to unlock federal funding and authorities to bolster border security. This declaration will allow the administration to deploy U.S. military personnel and resources to assist the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in securing the southern border.

Fox New's Bill Melugin, citing a Trump admin official, posted on his X account early on Monday that in regards to the deployment of troops:

"Trump will order US troops to be deployed to the border under U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), & will order the U.S. military to prioritize US borders and territorial integrity in strategic planning for its operations. Trump will direct his SecDef to develop a unified command plan, and the border security mission will be handled by NORTHCOM."

• "Remain in Mexico" Policy: The Migrant Protection Protocols will be reinstated, requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for U.S. court dates. He is also expected to order the immediate termination of Biden's CBP One cell phone app, which allowed migrants to request appointments to request asylum from Mexico.

• Construction of the Border Wall: As per Melugin, "Trump will direct DHS & DOD to finish construction of the border wall & deploy personnel to take operational control of the border." The administration plans to resume and expand construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, while his team is strategizing ways to fast-track construction by repurposing funds previously allocated by Congress for military and DHS projects.
• Mass Deportations: The backbone of his campaign promises regarding immigration, the administration has promised "the largest deportation operation in U.S. history," prioritizing those who have been convicted of crimes or are otherwise ineligible to remain in the U.S.
• Start the work of ending birthright citizenship: Trump intends to initiate efforts to end birthright citizenship, a policy he argues incentivizes illegal immigration. Achieving this would require a constitutional amendment, a process that demands both Congressional and state-level approvals. During an interview with NBC News back in December he called birthright citizenship "ridiculous," vower to end it and said it was uniquely American — though more than two dozen nations provide it.
• Designation of Drug Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs): "Trump will designate international cartels and crime organizations like Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).," explained Meluging, adding that "the order will declare these groups a national security threat and will invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to stop their operations." A FTO designation allows for targeted action against members, including sanctions and financial penalties.

• Travel Bans and Refugee Limitations: Trump plans to reinstate travel bans targeting specific countries and significantly reduce refugee admissions to historically low levels. The bans are expected to resemble those from his first term, targeting nations perceived as security risks.
• Public Health Emergency to Restrict Entry: Trump will invoke public health statutes, including Title 42, to suspend the entry of asylum seekers and migrants during national emergencies. Originally implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, Title 42 allowed for expedited expulsions without standard immigration proceedings.
• Suspension of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs: Immigration-related DEI initiatives across federal agencies will be dismantled to align with the administration's broader goal of restricting immigration.