WASHINGTON – On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump delivered his second inaugural address, focusing on immigration as the cornerstone of his administration’s policy agenda.
The speech, delivered in the Capitol Rotunda, outlined sweeping measures to transform the nation’s immigration system and strengthen national security. Below is a detailed journalistic exploration of Trump’s immigration promises and their implications.
Declaring a national emergency at the southern border
President Trump began by announcing “national emergency” at the southern border, which he considers to be his administration’s immediate priority. “All illegal entries will be stopped immediately,” Trump asserted, signaling his administration’s intention to fight illegal immigration with unprecedented vigor.
Without mentioning US support for Ukraine under the Biden administration, Donald Trump denounced the fact that his predecessor had prioritized foreign borders over American sovereignty. “We have an administration that has provided unlimited funding to defend foreign borders, but refuses to defend American borders,” Trump said.
The national emergency framework would allow Trump to allocate federal resources and bypass certain legislative hurdles in order to quickly implement his policies. Critics of such declarations argue that such measures often concentrate power in the executive branch, raising concerns about checks and balances and the potential for abuse.
Reinstatement of the “Stay in Mexico” policy
Donald Trump’s speech included the reinstatement of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). This policy requires asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border to wait in Mexico for their cases to be processed.
“We’re going to reinstate my ‘stay in Mexico’ policy,” declared Donald Trump. The MPP had been a hallmark of his first term, and its reinstatement is intended to discourage what he called “fraudulent asylum claims”. Critics have raised concerns about the safety and living conditions of migrants in Mexican border towns, but Trump’s administration sees the policy as an essential tool for reducing what he has called a “disastrous invasion” through the southern border.
Ending the practice of “Catch and Release”.
President Trump has promised to eliminate the practice known as “catch and release”, whereby migrants apprehended at the border are released in the US pending their immigration hearing. “I will end the practice of catch and release,” Trump declared, calling the policy a loophole exploited by migrants.
Under Trump’s approach, apprehended migrants would either be detained until their case could be adjudicated, or deported immediately. While this hardline stance aligns with Trump’s broader immigration agenda, it raises logistical problems, particularly with regard to increasing detention capacity and the legal ramifications of expedited deportations.
Deploying troops to the southern border
To further secure the border, Trump announced his intention to deploy US military personnel. “I’m going to send troops to the southern border to push back the disastrous invasion of our country,” he said, underscoring his administration’s commitment to treating illegal immigration as a threat to national security.
The use of active-duty military personnel for border control has always been limited by the Posse Comitatus law, which restricts the military’s role in policing the country’s interior. However, Trump’s characterization of immigration as an “invasion” suggests that his administration could take advantage of legal exceptions to justify such deployments.
Calling Mexican drug cartels terrorist organizations
In a significant policy shift, Trump declared that Mexican drug cartels would be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). “Under the orders I’m signing today, we will also designate the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations,” Trump announced.
This designation could allow the US government to use counter-terrorism tools to combat the cartels’ activities, including freezing their assets and imposing sanctions. However, such a measure could strain relations between the US and Mexico and complicate cross-border security cooperation.
The designation also raises questions about the criteria for labeling groups as terrorist organizations, and the risk of escalating violence in Mexico.
Invoking the Alien Enemies Act
In his speech, Donald Trump pledged to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a rarely-used law that gives the president the power to detain or deport nationals of foreign countries deemed hostile in times of war or invasion. “By invoking the Foreign Enemies Act, I will direct our government to use the immense power of federal and state law enforcement to eliminate the presence of all foreign gangs and criminal networks,” Trump said.
Although the law’s historic use has been limited, its reactivation under the Trump administration signals a willingness to use outdated laws to meet modern immigration challenges. Legal experts have expressed concern about the potential for abuse and the impact on civil liberties, particularly for immigrants from targeted regions.
Defending against the threat of invasion
At the heart of Donald Trump’s rhetoric, unauthorized immigration is presented as an existential threat to American sovereignty. “As commander-in-chief, I have no greater responsibility than to defend our country against threats and invasions,” he declared.
Trump’s repeated use of the term “invasion” reflects a broader rhetoric aimed at galvanizing public support for stricter immigration enforcement. Critics argue that this language risks dehumanizing migrants and encouraging xenophobia, but Trump’s administration sees it as a necessary call to action.
Implications for immigration policy
Trump’s speech highlights a hardline approach to immigration, marked by a mix of executive action, military engagement and legislative measures. His proposals are in line with the “America First” agenda, which prioritizes border security and national sovereignty. However, they also pave the way for important legal and ethical debates concerning the treatment of migrants and the scope of presidential authority.
Donald Trump’s speech presents a sweeping vision for overhauling U.S. immigration policy, with far-reaching implications for both domestic and international players. As these measures are implemented, they are likely to be challenged by advocacy groups, legal experts and political opponents, ensuring that immigration remains a central issue in US political discourse.