Immigration: A Timeline of Trump's Authoritarian Escalation

Comparing Trump’s Abuses Between Terms

First Term: Laying the Foundation

2017: The Trump administration began its attack on immigrants by enacting an executive order to ban entry into the U.S. for people from predominantly Muslim (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen). In response to the nationwide criticism for its discriminatory nature, the administration claimed it was for “national security” concerns.

That same year, Trump attempted to end the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which served to protect undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. The Supreme Court blocked the move, highlighting the unjust behavior against immigrants brought to the U.S. for refuge and under dire circumstances.

2018: As part of a “zero tolerance” approach, the family separation policy sought to deter immigration by separating thousands of children from their families by mandating the criminal prosecution of all adults that illegally crossed the U.S.- Mexico border, including asylum seekers. Because children of asylum seekers can’t be in federal criminal custody, thousands were separated and placed in shelters or foster care. Public outrage forced an executive order to halt the policy, but reunification efforts were slow and traumatic for many.

2020: Citing COVID-19 and “job protection, the Trump administration suspended several key work visas (H-1B, H-2B, J, and L), forcing many immigrants to be laid off and having to leave the U.S. due to no longer having a legal status that allowed them to reside in the States. 

Throughout Term: As promised in Trump’s 2016 campaign, executive orders were used to redirect military funds (after Congress didn’t approve full funding) to reinforce and continue building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico to quell border crossing. Additionally, his administration made it harder to obtain green cards for immigrants who might use public benefits (e.g., Medicaid and SNAP), discouraging eligible individuals from seeking assistance. Trump used every available resource to dispel the millions of immigrants that make up this country today, choosing to overlook the positive economic and social impact these minority communities make in the U.S.

Second Term: Escalation in Enforcement

Early 2025: Just 50 days into Trump’s second term, ICE began a sweeping wave of arrests totaling over 30,000 in just four months, with workplace raids and unannounced home visits being the key tactics used to take immigrants into custody and deport them.

January: Trump took it a step further and rescinded the restrictions on ICE that prevented them from raiding ‘sensitive’ locations such as places of worship. For example, over 200 Sikhs, primarily of Indian descent, have been deported back to India. This has deterred Sikh communities from gathering in places of worship or other public spaces in fear of ICE raids and raises serious concerns concerning not only anti-immigration policies but also religious and human rights violations. 

February - March: Trump signed an executive order dismantling the Department of Education. This move slashed federal aid programs like the Pell Grant, disproportionately affecting immigrant and international students reliant on financial support to pursue higher education.

March - April: The Trump administration revoked over 500 student visas, forcing many international students to leave their universities and the U.S. entirely. This move not only blocks future immigrants from pursuing education in America but also deters current non-citizen students from continuing their studies out of fear of deportation.

Among the visas revoked over frivolous claims include:

• Kseniya Petrova, a researcher at Harvard Medical School, had her visa revoked and was eventually detained after failing to report frog embryos when returning to the U.S from France. 

• Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinan student at Columbia University, was accused of being a part of a terror organization, had his visa revoked, and was detained despite being a lawful permanent resident. ICE’s defense for their actions cited a Cold War-era immigration law, stating that his presence “was adverse to American foreign policy interests.”

These cases reflect a broader effort by the Trump administration to aggressively strip immigrants—regardless of legal status—of their right to remain in the U.S.

As the Trump administration escalates its attacks on legal immigrants and international students states have a critical role to play in defense. But here in Georgia, both Governor Kemp and the Republican-led Legislature are falling short. While other states have stepped up with bold, practical policies to shield their immigrant and international student communities, Georgia has done next to nothing.

Check out the infographic below to see the clear gap between Georgia and state governments that are actually stepping up. It’s time for state leaders to meet this moment—with courage, compassion, and action.