Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has made significant, though contentious, strides in strengthening immigration enforcement in the United States. His latest measure came after the U.S. Supreme Court, on 30 June, sided with the left’s broad interpretation of the 14th Amendment concerning ‘birthright citizenship’. In a 6–3 ruling, the Court annulled the president’s previous efforts to end birthright citizenship for undocumented immigrants through Executive Orders. Thus, on 6 August, Trump enacted two Executive Orders designed to restrict the number of individuals eligible for ‘birthright citizenship’ and to combat ‘birth tourism’, a practice where women giving birth in the U.S. automatically confer citizenship to their newborns. Additionally, Trump assigned presidential powers to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to end birth tourism.
Enforcement, however, focuses solely on one facet: identifying individuals who should be barred from entry or who need to leave. The United States has yet to define criteria for who it wants to welcome, how to address long-term undocumented residents who have already become part of society, or how to create an immigration framework that aligns with the nation’s economic and national security objectives.
This has been a dilemma since President Harry S. Truman tried to halt what he called ‘an invasion‘ of foreigners into the nation in the 1950s. Subsequently, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, under Operation Wetback (1953)—a term deemed offensive to Mexicans crossing the border via the Rio Grande—expelled approximately 1.3 million Mexicans; many of those deported had initially entered the U.S. under the Bracero Program, a bilateral agreement between the Mexican and U.S. governments during World War II that permitted Mexican nationals to work in the U.S. under temporary contracts, in exchange for enhanced border security and the repatriation of illegal Mexican immigrants to Mexico.
The Trump administration has thus far carried out deportation flights, sometimes to third countries where migrants do not have established ties; increased immigration raids nationwide, even in schools and places of worship; and granted enhanced or new powers to various federal, state, and local officials to enforce domestic immigration laws. The DHS indicates that since January 2025, approximately three million illegal immigrants have been deported, including individuals convicted of serious crimes such as homicide, rape, drug trafficking, and domestic violence. Among these, 2.2 million opted for self-deportation through a program that allows migrants to voluntarily report themselves via a DHS application in return for a financial stipend and a free flight back to their country of origin.
Public sources, however, do not provide a singular, conclusive figure regarding the number of illegal immigrants who entered the U.S. during the second Trump administration. Accessible documents offer data on encounters, deportations, and border crossings that highlight trends, but they do not give a precise total for those who ‘entered illegally’; various datasets assess apprehensions, expulsions, removals, and self-deportations in overlapping ways.
Washington has also reduced its commitment to territorial asylum and is shifting more immigration responsibilities to other nations to alleviate the situation. Yet, notwithstanding how overwhelmed the asylum system is, this is not the root cause of the border crisis. Instead, it arises from the United States’ failure to develop a coherent strategy in response to the global changes in irregular migration. Every approach taken—whether it involves constructing a border wall or carrying out deportations—has proven inadequate to deliver the sustainable solutions our nation needs for prosperity and growth, nor has it restored the American public’s trust in the government’s ability to deliver results.
‘Mass deportation, as suggested by President Trump, is impractical due to its cost and lack of feasibility’
Of the reported 14 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S.—individuals whom many would agree should be removed—numerous economists and analysts argue that mass deportation, as suggested by President Trump, is impractical due to its cost and lack of feasibility. For example, the American Action Forum has provided a clear evaluation stating that ‘it would take roughly 20 years’ to deport everyone, along with an estimated cost of ‘at least $315 billion’ of taxpayer funds.
It is also vital to recognize that, in light of America’s demographic decline—a separate issue that demands attention—immigration is crucial to potentially restoring the U.S. unipolarity that has waned with the rise of communist China and a resurgent Russia as global adversaries following the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine. This is not an advocacy for open borders; on the contrary!
This is not a proposal to reinstate the Immigration Reform and Control Act, which was passed by Congress in 1986 and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan, granting amnesty to 3 million undocumented immigrants, including 2.2 million from Mexico, who had entered the United States before 1 January 1982. Although U.S. immigration laws were revised to criminalize the employment of undocumented immigrants and to impose financial penalties and other repercussions on employers engaging in such practices, the lack of adequate funding for enforcement rendered these security measures ineffective.
A robust immigration system can be established, provided it serves national interests by aligning admissions with the economic, security, and global priorities of the United States. This system must rely on thorough vetting of entrants, including enhancing border security. Implementing the World Bank’s ID4D initiative for universal digital identification would support this effort, as would improving the DHS’ E-Verify. This web-based platform enables registered employers to verify their employees’ work eligibility in America. The approach would expand legal pathways for skilled workers, thus addressing critical labor shortages while protecting American workers through a comprehensive employment verification process. If implemented properly, it would protect compliant employers and deter unlawful hiring practices.
This, however, would be a one-time initiative for long-term residents, particularly those who have lived in the country for at least a decade—especially if they were brought to the country as children through no fault of their own—provided they have no significant criminal record. This initiative would require registration with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, fulfillment of all tax responsibilities (or the establishment of repayment plans), completion of substantial community service, and successful completion of background checks. The desired outcome would be legal employment, family stability, and enhanced tax compliance, without promoting recent illegal immigration. Individuals who breach their visa conditions should have their visas revoked and be deported promptly.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, nearly 122 million people worldwide have been forcibly displaced and are in need of shelter. In addition to this, there are those who attempt to manipulate democracy for harmful purposes. As a result, the challenge of individuals seeking refuge at our borders will continue to be a significant issue. Therefore, we need to adopt a more balanced approach to address this situation effectively.
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