In the first month of his presidency, President Donald Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem have taken a series of actions aimed at addressing issues related to border security and immigration enforcement. The administration has implemented several key policies focused on securing the U.S. southern border and removing individuals who have entered the country illegally.
“President Trump said from the start: illegal aliens have no place in our homeland. He is keeping his promise,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, releasing the snapshot of Trump’s first month.
“In a single month, President Trump and Secretary Noem have made massive strides to address the crisis at the southern border and remove violent criminals from American communities. This is just the beginning of the golden age of America,” said DHS in a release.
According to DHS, on his first day in office, President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border and resumed construction of the border wall. Additionally, the administration reinstated the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which requires asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their claims are processed, reversing changes made under the previous administration.
Another significant policy shift was the end of the “catch and release” practice, which allowed individuals who entered the U.S. illegally to be released while awaiting hearings.
“The Trump administration has empowered our brave men and women in ICE, Border Patrol, and Coast Guard to use common sense to do their jobs effectively. DHS has repealed Biden-era rules that allowed illegal aliens to hide from law enforcement in places like schools and churches to avoid arrest. DHS also returned to using the term ‘illegal alien’ to reflect statutory language and stop political correctness from hindering law enforcement,” DHS stated.
The administration also reported a significant increase in arrests, noting, “ICE arrests of illegal aliens have doubled, and arrests of fugitives at large have tripled. Daily border encounters have plunged 93% since President Trump took office.”
DHS further stated, “To fulfill President Trump’s promise to carry out mass deportations, the administration is detaining illegal aliens, including violent criminals, at Guantanamo Bay. President Trump designated international cartels and other criminal gangs, such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.”
Furthermore, President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants accused of crimes such as theft, burglary, and assaulting law enforcement officers. DHS added, “President Trump stopped the broad abuse of humanitarian parole and returned the program to a case-by-case basis.”
“Secretary Noem ended the previous administration’s extension of Venezuelan Temporary Protected Status. DHS froze all grants to nonprofit organizations that facilitate illegal immigration. DHS deputized the Texas National Guard, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Marshals, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, members of the State Department, and the IRS to assist with immigration operations. Secretary Noem clawed back $80 million that FEMA officials had unilaterally allocated to put illegal aliens up in luxury New York City hotels,” DHS described one month’s achievements of the Trump administration.
However, these actions have sparked significant controversy, with critics arguing that they undermine human rights and disregard international law. Legal experts have questioned the constitutionality of some of the measures, including mass detentions at Guantanamo Bay.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
