In a series of executive orders signed on his first day back in office, President Trump has moved to dismantle key immigration policies enacted by the previous administration. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued memos rescinding restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and initiating a review of the use of humanitarian parole for migrant admissions.

One memo overturns a 2021 directive that established "protected areas" where ICE enforcement was prohibited. These locations included schools, hospitals, places of worship, and areas where children congregate. The Trump administration argues that common sense, rather than specific rules, should guide enforcement actions.

ICE agents have expressed support for the change, believing it will enable them to apprehend more individuals who have previously sought refuge near protected zones. A second memo addresses the Biden administration's extensive use of humanitarian parole, which granted entry to hundreds of thousands of migrants, including approximately 1.5 million through the CBP One app and parole processes for individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The Trump administration contends that parole should be granted on a case-by-case basis, alleging that the previous administration misused this authority.

The memo directs ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to identify and phase out any parole-related policies that deviate from statutory requirements. These actions coincide with a broader set of executive orders related to border security, including deploying the military to the border, terminating existing parole programs, and challenging birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants.

Trump has also declared a national emergency and ordered the resumption of border wall construction. Upon his inauguration, he declared that all illegal entry would be stopped immediately, initiating the process of deporting millions of individuals deemed "criminal aliens."