Undocumented immigrants in the United States are on alert due to potential new immigration policies under Donald Trump.
President Trump aims to accelerate mass deportations. He may use the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA) to achieve this.
IIRIRA facilitates deportations and reduces judicial processes.
The IIRIRA law was approved during Bill Clinton's presidency. It has been used by various administrations to deport undocumented immigrants.
The Trump administration may use IIRIRA to expedite deportations. This includes the use of accelerated removal programs.
Trump also seeks cooperation with state and local authorities to identify undocumented individuals. Strict sanctions could be applied to immigrants without authorization, even without criminal records.
Trump intends to eliminate protections such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Humanitarian Parole. He has also considered ending birthright citizenship.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is responsible for executing detention and removal orders. IIRIRA was enacted on September 30, 1996.
IIRIRA increased border security and sanctions against illegal crossings. It also tightened asylum and immigration status adjustment criteria.
IIRIRA established expedited removal, allowing immigration agents to order deportations without a judge. It imposes re-entry bans of three to ten years for those unlawfully present for over 180 days.
Re-entry without authorization after deportation requires waiting ten years before seeking a waiver. IIRIRA reduced legal avenues for regularizing immigration status.
The law increased deportations, even for long-term residents with family ties to US citizens. Organizations like Alianza Americas claim the law reinforces a negative view of immigrants.
They also note that it contributes to family separation, mass detention, and disproportionate surveillance of migrant communities.