What to Expect on Title 42 and Immigration
With President-elect Donald Trump going into office next month, his administration is already teasing blockbuster Day 1 moves, which, according to incoming Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, could include taking on Title 42, an explosively divisive immigration policy since it took hold.
Appearing on Fox News'Sunday Morning Futures, Leavitt shared what the administration intends to make a focus on Trump's first day of work.
Sealing the Southern Border via Title 42
Leavitt said that revising Title 42-a highly contentious, Trump-era policy-could rank among the first executive orders. The policy had, until then, been invoked in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, to facilitate a very fast process for the expulsion of asylum seekers on public health concerns.
While Title 42 ended in May 2023 following the end of the pandemic emergency, Trump's team is considering reinstating it to harden border security.
"Securing the southern border, perhaps looking at Title 42, is on the table," Leavitt said. "Many of these executive actions are still being reviewed by our policy teams and legal advisors."
Mass Deportations and Immigration Enforcement
Beyond Title 42, Trump intends to initiate what Leavitt called "the largest mass deportation of illegal criminals in American history." The program would enable joint operations among federal and local law enforcement to find and detain undocumented immigrants before their being deported.
Leavitt reaffirmed the administration: "He will use the power of his pen to deliver on many of the promises he made to the American people to secure our southern border."
Critics and experts, however say that mass deportations are implausible and could have severe repercussions on the economy.
Broader Day 1 Agenda
Trump's Day One plans are not limited to immigration. According to Leavitt, the president-elect will also focus on:
- Fast-tracking permits for fracking and drilling.
- Addressing social issues, such as policies related to transgender rights.
"He can act immediately to stop some of the transgender insanity that has taken over this country," Leavitt said.
Implications for Immigration Policy
The probable reinstatement of Title 42 and the emphasis on mass deportations indicate the relapse into rigid immigration policy during the Trump regime. This will likely fire up debates on border security, public health, and asylum seekers' rights anew.
As the policy team puts finishing touches on the details, Americans wait to see how these decisions will finally shape the nation's immigration landscape.
Check in later for more updates on executive orders and the immigration, among other significant topics, of Day 1 under Trump.