Executive Order Tracker: Immigration Actions
Below are brief analyses of relevant Administrative Actions—including Executive Orders (EOs), Proclamations, Memoranda, and Guidance—issued by President Trump, ordered with the most recent Actions first. Expand each item by clicking on it to learn more.
Every day we are doing in-depth analysis of these Administrative Actions. If you’d like to learn more about what these mean for you and your business, don’t hesitate to contact us regarding immigration Executive Orders, and information for additional subjects can be accessed using the links below.
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Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of The United States by Tren De Aragua
March 15, 2025 — Details ⮟
- Overview: Proclaims that “TdA is perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States” and that “TdA is undertaking hostile actions and conducting irregular warfare against the territory of the United States.”
Proclaims that “all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older who are members of TdA, are within the United States, and are not actually naturalized or lawful permanent residents of the United States are liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as Alien Enemies.” Declares that “all such members of TdA are, by virtue of their membership in that organization, chargeable with actual hostility against the United States and are therefore ineligible for the benefits of 50 U.S.C. 22.” and all members of TdA “are a danger to the public peace or safety of the United States.”
Requires the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security, to apprehend, restrain, secure, and remove every “Alien Enemy” as described above, consistent with applicable law. - Notes: This presidential action is subject to a temporary restraining order issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that enjoins the federal government from removing individuals covered under this presidential action for 14 days (case number 1:25-cv-00766). The federal government has filed an appeal of the temporary restraining order to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (case number: 25-5068). The federal government filed an appeal to the Supreme Court and on April 7, 2025, the Supreme Court vacated the temporary restraining orders.
- Agencies Receiving Instructions: Attorney General; Secretary of Homeland Security; all executive departments and agencies; and appropriate State, local, and tribal officials
- Topics: Immigration; Alien Enemies Act
- Learn More: Visit The White House website.
Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders
February 19, 2025 — Details ⮟
- Overview: Requires the head of each executive department or agency to:
- Identify all federally funded programs administered by the agency that currently permit “illegal aliens” to obtain any cash or non-cash public benefit and take all appropriate actions to align such programs with the purposes of this EO
- Ensure that Federal payments to States and localities do not facilitate the subsidization or promotion of illegal immigration or abet “sanctuary” policies that seek to shield “illegal aliens” from deportation
- Enhance eligibility verification systems to the maximum extent possible to ensure that taxpayer-funded benefits exclude any ineligible alien who entered the U.S. illegally or is unlawfully present in the U.S.
Requires agencies to refer any improper receipt or use of Federal benefits to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security for appropriate action. - Agencies Receiving Instructions: Heads of each executive department or agency; Director of OMB; Administrator of the U.S. DOGE Service; Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy; DOJ; and Department of Homeland Security
- Topics: Immigration; federal funding
- Learn More: Visit The White House website.
DHS Directives Expanding Law Enforcement and Ending the Abuse of Humanitarian Parole
January 21, 2025 — Details ⮟
- Overview: The first directive rescinds the Biden Administration’s guidelines for ICE and CBP enforcement actions that prohibit law enforcement from acting in or near so-called “sensitive” areas. Sensitive areas are taken to include places such as schools, medical or mental healthcare facilities, places of worship, playgrounds, social service centers, etc.
The second directive ends the utilization of humanitarian parole and returns the program to a case-by-case basis, as stipulated under the "Securing Our Borders" Executive Order. ICE and CBP will phase out any parole programs that are not in accordance with the law. - Agencies Receiving Instructions: Department of Homeland Security
- Topics: Immigration enforcement
- Learn More: Visit the Department of Homeland Security website.
Guaranteeing The States Protection Against Invasion
January 20, 2025 — Details ⮟
- Overview: This proclamation closes the southern border, suspending the physical entry of aliens. It also prohibits future entry of aliens who do not provide U.S. officials with medical information, reliable criminal history and background information.
- Agencies Receiving Instructions: Department of State; Department of Justice; and Department of Homeland Security
- Topics: Border security
- Learn More: Visit The White House website.
EO 14157: Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorists
January 20, 2025 — Details ⮟
- Overview: This order creates a process by which certain international cartels and other organizations will be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, or Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
The designation and determination of any cartels to be listed as foreign terrorist organizations must be completed within 14 days.
Additionally, federal agencies have 14 days to make operational preparations, including the establishment of facilities as necessary to expedite the removal of those who may be designated under this order. - Agencies Receiving Instructions: Department of State; Department of the Treasury; Department of Justice; and Department of Homeland Security
- Topics: International organized crime; terrorism; border security
- Learn More: Visit The White House website.
EO 14161: Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists And Other National Security And Public Safety Threats
January 20, 2025 — Details ⮟
- Overview: The order strengthens the visa-issuance process to ensure that those approved for admission into the U.S. “do not intend to harm Americans”, including through enhanced vetting and screening. It re-establishes a uniform baseline for screening and vetting standards and procedures, consistent with the uniform baseline that existed on January 19, 2021, that will be used for any “alien” seeking a visa or immigration benefit of any kind.
The order also empowers federal agencies to assess countries who pose the highest risk for entry to the U.S. including recommendations for a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries. - Notes: Sections of this EO are subject to a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York (case number: 3:25-cv-00335). The sections of the EO that the suit seeks to enjoin involve allegations that the EO bars non-citizens from engaging in certain types of speech under threat of deportation.
- Agencies Receiving Instructions: Department of Homeland Security; Department of Justice; and Department of Homeland Security
- Topics: Visa process; migration
- Learn More: Visit the The White House website.
EO 14159: Protecting The American People Against Invasion
January 20, 2025 — Details ⮟
- Overview: The order empowers federal immigration authorities to vigorously enforce the existing immigration laws, including those related to illegal entry and unlawful presence of aliens in the U.S.
Additionally, the order establishes a Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) in all states nationwide to remove criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations, dismantle cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks, and ensure the use of all available law enforcement tools to faithfully execute the immigration laws.
The order also requires DHS to establish detention facilities. Further, the order authorizes state and local law enforcement to perform the functions of immigration officers to carry out these efforts. - Notes: Section 17 of this EO, which provides that "so-called 'sanctuary' jurisdictions... do not receive access to Federal funds," is subject to ongoing litigation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (case number 1:25-cv-10442).
- Agencies Receiving Instructions: Department of Homeland Security; Treasury Department; Department of Justice; and Department of State
- Topics: Enforcement of immigration laws; border security; transnational crime
- Learn More: Visit The White House website.
EO 14165: Securing Our Border
January 20, 2025 — Details ⮟
- Overview: The EO takes numerous steps, through empowering federal agencies, to secure U.S. borders. These include:
- Construction of physical barriers along the southern border.
- Deployment of military and DHS personnel along the southern border.
- Empowers DHS to take all appropriate actions to detain aliens apprehended for violations of immigration law.
- DHS will also issue new policy guidance or propose regulations regarding the appropriate and consistent use of lawful detention authority under the INA, including the termination of the practice commonly known as “catch-and-release".
- DHS will also resume Migrant Protection Protocols along the southern border.
- DHS will cease using "CPB One".
- Terminate categorical parole programs including for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.
The order empowers federal immigration authorities to vigorously enforce the existing immigration laws, including those related to illegal entry and unlawful presence of aliens in the U.S.
Additionally, the order establishes a Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) in all states nationwide to remove criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations, dismantle cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks, and ensure the use of all available law enforcement tools to faithfully execute the immigration laws.
The order also requires DHS to establish detention facilities. Further, the order authorizes state and local law enforcement to perform the functions of immigration officers to carry out these efforts. - Agencies Receiving Instructions: Department of Homeland Security; Treasury Department; Department of Justice; and Department of State
- Topics: Enforcement of immigration laws; border security; transnational crime
- Learn More: Visit The White House website.
EO 14160: Protecting The Meaning And Value of American Citizenship
January 20, 2025 — Details ⮟
- Overview: Establishes the policy that no department or agency of the U.S. government shall issue documents recognizing U.S. citizenship, or accept documents issued by State, local, or other governments or authorities purporting to recognize U.S. citizenship, to persons:
1. When that person’s mother was unlawfully present in the U.S. and the person’s father was not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth, or
2. When that person’s mother’s presence in the U.S. was lawful but temporary, and the person’s father was not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth
This policy will apply only to persons who are born within the U.S. after 30 days from the date of this order.
Additionally, this order will not affect the entitlement of other individuals, including children or lawful permanent residents, to obtain their citizenship documentation. - Notes: This EO is subject to ongoing litigation and is currently subject to multiple injunctions by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington (case number 2:25-cv-00127), the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (case number 1:25-cv-10139), and the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (case number 8:25-cv-00201). On February 19, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied the government’s emergency motion for a partial stay of the district court’s preliminary injunction (case number 25-807). On February 28, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit denied the government’s motion for a partial stay of the district court’s preliminary injunction (case number 25-1153). On March 11, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit denied the government’s motion for a stay pending appeal of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts’s preliminary injunction on the enforcement of this EO.
- Agencies Receiving Instructions: Department of State; Department of Justice; Department of Homeland Security; Social Security Administration; and agency-wide
- Topics: U.S. citizenship; birthright; visa applications; constitutionality
- Learn More: Visit the The White House website.
EO 14163: Realigning The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program
January 20, 2025 — Details ⮟
- Overview: Pursuant to sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a), the order determined that entry into the U.S. of refugees under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) “would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.” As such, the president directs that entry into the U.S. of refugees under the USRAP be suspended until a finding is made in accordance with the order. This suspension shall take effect at 12:01 am eastern standard time on January 27, 2025.
Within 90 days of this order, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit a report to the President regarding whether resumption of entry of refugees into the U.S. under the USRAP would be in the interests of the U.S. - Notes: This EO is subject to a preliminary injunction issued on February 25, 2025 by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington (case number 2:25-cv-00255).
- Agencies Receiving Instructions: Department of Homeland Security, Department of State; Department of Justice; and Department of HHS
- Topics: Refugees; resettlement programs
- Learn More: Visit The White House website.
EO 14167: Clarifying The Military's Role In Protecting The Territorial Integrity of the United States
January 20, 2025 — Details ⮟
- Overview: Within 10 days, the Secretary of Defense must deliver to the President a revision to the Unified Command Plan that assigns United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) the mission to “seal the borders and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the U.S. by repelling forms of invasion including unlawful mass migration, narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and trafficking, and other criminal activities ..."
- Agencies Receiving Instructions: Department of Defense; and U.S. Armed Forces
- Topics: Utilization of military
- Learn More: Visit The White House website.
Declaring A National Emergency At The Southern Border
January 20, 2025 — Details ⮟
- Overview: Declaration of a national emergency at the southern border.
Provides additional authority to the Department of Defense to support the Federal Government’s response to the emergency at the southern border, including the use of the Armed Forces and the construction of the border wall, in accordance with section 301 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1631) and section 2808 of title 10, United States Code. - Agencies Receiving Instructions: Department of Homeland Security; U.S. Armed Forces; Department of Defense; Department of Transportation; Federal Communications Commission; and Department of Justice
- Topics: Border security; border construction; utilization of military
- Learn More: Visit the The White House website.
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