The Trump administration is increasingly targeting not only undocumented immigrants but also those legally residing in the United States, according to legal advocates. Policies enacted over the past year have left many legal immigrants facing the sudden loss of their status and the threat of deportation.
Ghita Schwarz, litigation director for the International Refugee Assistance Project, described the efforts as a 'great de-legalisation campaign' aimed at rendering millions of people vulnerable to detention and removal. The government has suspended the refugee programme, paused green card processing for refugees, and set a cap of just 7,500 refugee admissions for 2026.
Additionally, the administration has revoked Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about one million people from several countries, including Venezuela, Haiti, and Sudan. Lawsuits challenging these revocations have had mixed success. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) programme has also come under pressure, with an increasing number of Dreamers being arrested and deported.
Critics argue that these actions undermine the rule of law and due process, leaving many who entered the US legally in legal limbo. The administration continues to face court challenges over its immigration policies.
