
Immigrants
The U.S. is a nation of immigrants. With the exception of Native Americans, every citizen in the country today can trace their family lineage to another continent. Immigration in the U.S., until post-1965, was dominated by Europeans, with different waves featuring primarily English, northern Europeans, southern, and Eastern Europeans. It was not until after 1965, when the national origins formula, which limited immigration and naturalization from countries outside of Western Europe, was replaced with per-country limits that immigrants from Latin America and Asia began to dominate the trends.
Despite the fact that the economic, cultural, and social values of a richly diverse "melting pot" have been proven in studies time and time again, fear of the “other,” of the potential loss of personal benefit, has led to unfair targeting of various groups throughout the United States short history, both officially and unofficially.
This page will target actions and statements by Trump that impact immigrants.
See also Immigration.
Timeline
2015.04.09 | This is the full text of an opinion piece by Jeff Sessions on why he believes America should restrict legal immigration. washingtonpost.com (See also Jeff Sessions, Immigration) |
2015.08.16 | Trump's newly unveiled immigration plan calls for the end of automatic citizenship for people born in the United States. abcnews.go.com (See also 2016 Campaign, Immigration) |
2015.11.20 | A step-by-step infographic to the rigorous process for refugee entry into the U.S. obamawhitehouse.archives.gov (See also Immigration) |
2015.12.07 | Trump releases campaign statement on preventing Muslim immigration. donaldjtrump.com (See also Muslims, Immigration, Muslim Immigration Ban) |
2016.02.11 | Trump and Univision come to confidential settlement over Trump's $500 million lawsuit, which he filed after Univision canceled its plans to broadcast Trump's Miss USA pageant in retaliation for derogatory comments Trump made about Mexican immigrants. fortune.com (See also Feuds, Mexican Americans) |
2016.09.01 | Trump proposes policy in Phoenix immigration speech. nytimes.com |
2016.10.19 | In a presidential debate Trump falsely claims Clinton wants "open borders." politifact.com (See also False Statements) Donald Trump says that Hillary Clinton wants open borders — a charge he has leveled again after an excerpt of one of her speeches leaked in a hacked email. "We have no country if we have no... |
2016.11.04 | Melania Trump was paid for 10 modeling jobs in 1996 before she received legal authorization to work in the United States, despite her claims she obeyed immigration laws. washingtonpost.com (See also Melania Trump, False Statements) |
2016.11.10 | Trump campaign staff redirects link to Muslim ban info on Trump website, but restores it after press inquiries. washingtonpost.com (See also Muslims, Immigration, Muslim Immigration Ban) |
2016.12.21 | Trump, when asked about his proposed Muslim registry by a reporter, says "you know my plans." washingtonpost.com (See also Muslims, Immigration, Muslim Registry) |
2016.12.22 | Kellyanne Conway says Trump will not ban Muslims from U.S. solely on religious grounds. cnn.com (See also Muslims, Immigration, Muslim Immigration Ban) |
2017.01.01 | Immigrants fear the return of Bush-era workplace raids under Trump administration. nytimes.com |
2017.01.04 | Trump team requests Homeland Security records on border barriers, aerial surveillance, expanded immigrant detention, and more reuters.com (See also Department of Homeland Security, Mexican Wall, Immigration, agency) |
2017.01.06 | Full text of the Protect American Families Act of 2017. scribd.com (See also Muslims, Immigration, Muslim Registry) Protect American Families Act of 2017 |
2017.01.06 | U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and seven Senate colleagues introduce the Protect American Families Act. merkley.senate.gov (See also Muslims, Immigration, Muslim Registry) |
2017.01.13 | Asian Americans express fears about the Trump administration at an Asian Americans Advancing Justice panel in Orange County, CA. ocregister.com (See also Asian Americans, Affordable Care Act, Health Care) |
2017.01.16 | Homeland Security nominee Kelly says border wall "will not do the job." latimes.com (See also John Kelly, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration, Mexico, Mexico Wall) |
2017.01.19 | More than 1,000 people rallied at the Chicago Teachers Union HQ to protest Trump's hard-line immigration proposals. chicagotribune.com (See also Immigration) |
2017.01.25 | By cracking down on immigration and threatening martial law, Trump is following through on his incendiary campaign promises. vanityfair.com (See also First 100 Days, Immigration, Mexico Wall, Sanctuary Cities) |
2017.01.25 | Trump signs an executive order on Sanctuary Cities that vaguely declares it illegal to "facilitate the presence of aliens." univision.com (See also Immigration, First 100 Days, Fascism, Mexican Americans) This could mean helping undocumented immigrants now a crime under Trump. |
2017.01.25 | Trump signs executive order to begin Mexico border wall and cut funding from sanctuary cities in immigration crackdown. theguardian.com (See also First 100 Days, Mexico Wall, Immigration, Sanctuary Cities, Mexican Americans) |
2017.01.25 | Trump’s order will cut the number of refugees admitted to the U.S. in half nytimes.com (See also First 100 Days, Immigration, Syria) |
2017.01.26 | Trump critic and Gold Star father Khizr Khan says Trump's Muslim ban could threaten American security. cnn.com (See also Muslims, Immigration, Muslim Immigration Ban) |
2017.01.28 | Some Congressional Republicans respond to criticism by speaking out against Muslim immigration ban; most, including Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell, remain silent. washingtonpost.com (See also First 100 Days, Muslim Immigration Ban, Muslims, Immigration) |
2017.01.29 | Trump’s immigration executive order creates an international mess, a legal challenge, protests at major airports across the country, and his first defeat in court. politico.com (See also First 100 Days, Muslim Immigration Ban, Immigration, Muslims) |
2017.01.30 | Acting Attorney General Sally Yates orders Justice Department not to defend Trump's executive order on immigration in court, stating concerns about its legality. nytimes.com (See also Immigration, Muslim Immigration Ban, Muslims, Department of Justice) |
2017.01.30 | Trump fires acting Attorney General Sally Yates after she orders government lawyers not to defend Muslim immigration ban. nytimes.com (See also Department of Justice, Muslim Immigration Ban, Muslims, Immigration, Presidential Activity, Assaults on Government) |
2017.01.31 | Dozens of lawsuits were filed against immigration order. clearinghouse.net (See also Lawsuits, Muslim Immigration Ban, John Kelley, First 100 Days, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, John Kelly) |
2017.01.31 | Justice Department releases State Department notice that "provisionally" revokes immigrant and non-immigrant visas already issued to citizens of nations listed in Trump's Muslim immigration ban. politico.com (See also Muslims, Muslim Immigration Ban, Immigration) |
2017.01.31. | Immigration ban puts American citizens at risk by disrupting travel and status of patients and healthcare workers. wired.com (See also Unprecedented Actions, First 100 days, Health Care) |
2017.02.02 | Kellyanne Conway defends Muslim ban by citing a nonexistent "Bowling Green massacre" supposedly carried out by Iraqi refugees. washingtonpost.com (See also False Statements, Assaults on Facts, Muslim Immigration Ban, Iraq) |
2017.02.02 | Trump espouses a vision of religious nationalism at annual prayer breakfast. theatlantic.com (See also Nationalism, Muslims, Constitutional Issues) His speech focused on the violent, ideological threats to America while vowing to repeal the Johnson Amendment. |
2017.02.03 | Government attorney reveals that over 100,000 visas have been revoked due to Trump's Muslim immigration ban. washingtonpost.com (See also Immigration, Muslim Immigration Ban, Muslims) |
2017.02.03 | Millions of Americans could go hungry if President Trump moves forward with a draft executive order that restricts the welfare benefits available to immigrants, according to experts in immigration law. washingtonpost.com (See also First 100 Days) |
2017.02.05 | Trump tweets in an attempt to undermine legal system: "Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad!" twitter.com (See also Assaults on Facts, Assaults on Government) |
2017.02.07 | A San Francisco appeals court will hear arguments today on the nationwide freeze of Trump's extreme vetting program. politico.com (See also Muslim Immigration Ban, First 100 Days, Muslims) |
2017.02.08 | Number of U.S. religious congregations participating in sanctuary movement doubles after presidential election. theguardian.com (See also First 100 Days, Immigration) |
2017.02.09 | 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds suspension of Trump’s Muslim immigration ban. washingtonpost.com (See also First 100 Days, Muslim Immigration Ban, Immigration, Lawsuits) |
2017.02.09 | The court went out of its way in its opinion released Thursday to emphasize the right and the duty of the judiciary to rule on the constitutionality of executive action, even when national security is on the line. bloomberg.com (See also First 100 Days, Muslim Immigration Ban, Muslims, Constitutional Issues) |
2017.02.10 | U.S. immigration authorities conduct raids and arrest undocumented immigrants, including some without criminal records, in at least six states. washingtonpost.com (See also Immigration) |
2017.02.13 | Homeland Security chief Kelly responds after immigration raids spark outrage abcnews.go.com (See also Department of Homeland Security, Immigration, John Kelly) |
2017.02.15 | ICE agents arrest at least two men leaving an Alexandria church's hypothermia shelter raising questions about whether the people there are being targeted. nbcwashington.com (See also First 100 Days) |
2017.02.16 | A 23-year-old DACA work permit holder in Seattle faces immigration removal proceedings after his arrest and the termination of his "dreamer" status in part because of a gang tattoo that says "Peace" in Spanish. theguardian.com (See also First 100 Days, Immigration, Mexican Americans) |
2017.02.16 | Six ICE agents show up at El Paso County, Texas, courthouse and detain woman seeking a protective order against a boyfriend she accused of domestic abuse. washingtonpost.com (See also Women, First 100 Days, Unprecedented Actions) |
2017.02.17 | Leaked memo outlines Trump administration's proposal to mobilize 100,000 National Guard troops for immigration raids. cbsnews.com (See also Immigration) |
2017.02.17 | Trump administration denies it is considering use of National Guard to conduct immigration raids. cnbc.com (See also First 100 Days, Immigration) |
2017.02.18 | DHS Secretary Kelly signs memos detailing new guidelines that empower federal agents to more aggressively detain and deport illegal immigrants. washingtonpost.com (See also Nationalism, Immigration) |
2017.02.18 | The White House distances itself from a Department of Homeland Security draft proposal to use the National Guard to round up unauthorized immigrants. apnews.com (See also Department of Homeland Security) |
2017.02.21 | Trump administration unveils new immigration rules that will make it easier to immediately deport people for minor crimes. nytimes.com (See also Immigration) |
2017.02.21 | Trump's DHS guidelines aggressively target all 11 million illegal aliens, discarding Obama-era restraints. washingtonpost.com (See also Immigration, Department of Justice) Officials said the new guidelines to beef up border enforcement will be handled “humanely.” |
2017.02.22 | The Trump administration issues new immigration policies with the goal of empowering agents to strictly enforce deportation laws. washingtonpost.com (See also Nationalism, Fascism, Immigration) |
2017.02.22 | Trump's DHS Secretary, John Kelly, lays out aggressive guidance for vigorously pursuing illegal immigrants. cnn.com (See also Nationalism, Fascism, Immigration, Department of Homeland Security) |
2017.02.22 | Two Indian immigrants and a bystander shot by racist in a bar; one immigrant dies, and the shooter—who'd said the victims didn't belong in the United States—now faces first-degree premeditated murder and attempted murder charges. nytimes.com (See also Racism, Hate Crimes) |
2017.02.25 | Trump administration claims 109 people were detained in the first 26 hours after Muslim immigration ban was enacted, when 746 people were actually detained. nytimes.com (See also Assaults on Facts, Executive Orders, Muslim Immigration Ban, Muslims) |
2017.02.28 | In a private meeting with news anchors, Trump reverses his hard-line immigration stance and says he'd be open to a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who haven't committed serious crimes. nytimes.com (See also First 100 Days, Immigration) |
2017.03.03 | Seattle-area Sikh man is shot by white man who told him to "go back to your own country." washingtonpost.com |
2017.03.06 | Trump's chief strategist Steve Bannon describes Islam as "a cancer" and says U.S. is fighting a "global existential war" against Islam in newly surfaced audiotapes. abcnews.go.com (See also Steve Bannon, Nationalism, Muslims) |
2017.03.15 | Federal judge Derrick K. Watson issues nationwide block on Trump Administration's revised travel ban. nytimes.com (See also Muslim Immigration Ban, Muslims, Immigration) |
2017.07.07 | The head of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement in charge of deportations has directed his officers to take action against all undocumented immigrants they may cross paths with, regardless of criminal histories, going far beyond the Trump administration’s publicly stated aims to only target "the worst" criminals. propublica.org (See also False Statements) |
2017.08.26 | Controversial former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio was pardoned by Donald Trump on Friday after being found guilty in July on criminal contempt charges stemming from his refusal to stop imprisoning suspected illegal immigrants. abcnews.go.com (See also Racism, Unpresidential Behavior, Immigration) |
2017.09.14 | Donald Trump confirmed that he supports legislation that would protect young undocumented immigrants from deportation and would deliver a “massive” increase in border security — but not with a wall on the southern border. nytimes.com (See also Mexico Wall, Immigration) |
2017.10.11 | The Department of Homeland Security is quietly exploring ways it could transform the US immigration system without Congress, including limiting protections for unaccompanied minors who come to the US illegally, expanding the use of speedy deportation proceedings, and tightening visa programs in ways that could limit legal immigration to the US. cnn.com (See also Immigration, Department of Homeland Security) |
2017.10.18 | A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the U.S. government to allow an undocumented teenager in its custody to have an abortion, after saying she was “astounded” the Trump administration was trying to prevent the procedure. washingtonpost.com (See also Women, Legal Issues, Jeff Sessions, Department of Justice) |
2017.11.27 | Papers in a lawsuit involving work on Trump Tower’s site were unsealed by a judge last week, revealing that Donald Trump paid over $1 Million in a labor settlement due to employing 200 undocumented workers in 12 hour shifts, without gloves, hard hats, or masks, paid as little as $4 an hour, less than half the union wage, if they got paid at all. nytimes.com (See also Legal Activity, Lawsuits, Trump Business) |
2017.12.21 | The Justice Department wiped a wide swath of "guidance documents" off the books on Thursday, withdrawing 25 documents — including one addressing integration of people with disabilities in state and local government programs and another on standards for assessing citizenship status discrimination. buzzfeed.com (See also People with Disabilities, Department of Justice, Jeff Sessions) |
2018.03.28 | Immigrants who accept almost any form of welfare or public benefit, even popular tax deductions, could be denied legal U.S. residency according to a draft under proposal awaiting approval by the Trump administration, which is seeking to reduce the number of foreigners living in the United States. washingtonpost.com (See also Immigration, Department of Homeland Security) It could affect immigrants protected by DACA if they attempt to file for full legal residency. |
2018.04.03 | A group of 17 U.S. states and 6 cities sued the Trump administration to stop it from asking people filling out 2020 census forms whether they are citizens. reuters.com (See also Immigration, Department of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, Nationalism) |
2018.09.22 | Trump administration officials announced that immigrants who legally use public benefits like food assistance and Section 8 housing vouchers could be denied green cards under new rules aimed at keeping out people the administration deems a drain on the country. nytimes.com (See also Immigration, Americans in Poverty, Racism, Department of Homeland Security) A rule proposed by the Trump administration could force immigrants seeking permanent resident status to prove they will never become reliant on government assistance. |
2018.11.24 | The Trump administration is working on a plan with Mexico’s incoming government to remake U.S. border policy by requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims move through U.S. courts washingtonpost.com (See also Immigration, Mexico) |
2018.12.13 | The Trump Administration is quietly denying federal housing loans to DACA recipients. buzzfeednews.com (See also Unpresidential Behavior, Racism, Department of Housing and Urban Development) |
2018.12.15 | More than 40 Cambodian immigrants are set to be flown out of the United States in what attorneys believe is the largest deportation flight of Cambodian immigrants under the Trump administration. buzzfeednews.com (See also Immigration, Nationalism) |
The Trump administration has given nearly 60,000 Haitians with provisional legal residency in the United States 18 months to leave, announcing that it will not renew the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) that has allowed them to remain in this country. washingtonpost.com (See also Racism, Department of Homeland Security) |
Assessments
Adrian Florido–National Public Radio
In his Jan. 3, 2017, article Florido looks at how immigrant activists like Viridiana Martinez anticipate a boost in advocacy efforts in response to Trump's deportation plans.
Viewing Trump as a grave threat to their immigrant communities, many local lawmakers are reacting to his deportation proposals with the kind of defiance that grassroots advocates have been asking of them for years.