In a dramatic escalation of its immigration enforcement strategy, the Trump administration is preparing to implement a sweeping new policy that could see thousands of migrants who entered the United States legally facing re-screening and potential deportation.
The controversial initiative, revealed through a draft memo obtained by the DailyMail.com, represents one of the most significant hardening of immigration policies to date. It specifically targets individuals who initially entered the country with valid visas, green cards, or through the visa waiver program.
Who Could Be Affected?
The policy casts a wide net, potentially affecting numerous categories of legal entrants:
- Green card holders (legal permanent residents)
- Individuals who entered on valid visas
- Those who came through the visa waiver program
- Migrants who subsequently applied for asylum or other protections
The Screening Process
Under the proposed measures, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) would conduct thorough re-examinations of cases where initial immigration benefits were granted. The authorities would be specifically looking for any discrepancies or omissions in original applications that could render the migrant 'inadmissible' under existing immigration laws.
This could include situations where individuals failed to disclose previous immigration violations, criminal history, or other relevant information that might have affected their initial eligibility.
Legal Authority and Implementation
The policy derives its authority from section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which governs the visa waiver program. This program allows citizens of 40 participating countries to visit the US for up to 90 days without a visa.
However, the new measures would significantly expand scrutiny beyond typical visa waiver violations, creating a mechanism for challenging previously approved immigration statuses long after entry.
Potential Impact and Concerns
Immigration advocates have raised serious concerns about the policy's implications, warning that it could:
- Create massive uncertainty for legal residents
- Overwhelm the already burdened immigration court system
- Potentially separate families who have established lives in the US
- Set a precedent for retroactively challenging immigration decisions
The move represents the latest in a series of aggressive immigration measures taken by the Trump administration, which has made border security and enforcement central to its political agenda.
As the policy moves toward implementation, legal challenges are expected from immigrant rights organizations who argue it represents an overreach of executive authority and violates due process protections.
