A proclamation by President Trump referring to undocumented migrants as an ‘invasion’ has been deeply criticized by both immigrant rights advocacy groups and opposition politicians. Critics saw the president’s proclamation as an attempt to promote a specific interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. Multiple democratic politicians have expressed concerns that the president is using the situation at the southern border in 2024 to justify expanding the power of the executive branch.
Trump issued the proclamation as part of his inauguration speech on January 20, 2025. He later illustrated a historic low in border crossings since his inauguration in a speech to Congress on March 5, 2025. Critics argue the president’s rhetoric alone cannot support the changes to immigration enforcement the Trump administration desires.
The recent proclamation is endemic of Trump administration’s harder stance on immigration enforcement, which comes after immigration reached one of its highest peaks in U.S. history. Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau in late 2024 shows the percentage of immigrants in the U.S. population in 2023 was 14.3%, just below the all-time high of 14.8% recorded in 1890. Despite this recent peak, only twenty five percent of all immigrants in the U.S. are undocumented; in contrast, half of all immigrants currently in the U.S. are fully naturalized citizens.
The Trump administration’s pivot in immigration enforcement policy so soon after immigration reached such a high level will place a tremendous amount of pressure on U.S. immigration services. This will cause the already present backlog in the U.S. immigration system to increase.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical.
