President-elect Donald Trump is set to sign 10 executive orders on immigration immediately after taking office on Monday, including a declaration of a national emergency at the southern border. These orders form part of a larger agenda comprising more than 200 executive actions, a record-setting first-day initiative aimed at implementing key campaign promises.
The immigration-focused orders will include reinstating the controversial "Remain in Mexico" policy, terminating the "catch and release" practice, and halting birthright citizenship for children born to non-citizens in the United States. Trump also plans to suspend refugee resettlement programs for at least four months and designate criminal cartels, such as MS-13, as foreign terrorist organizations.
"The president is issuing a historic series of executive orders and actions that will fundamentally reform the American government," a senior administration official said. "This is about restoring sovereignty and ensuring the safety and security of the American people."
A declaration of a national emergency at the border will allow the Department of Defense to deploy military forces and the National Guard to assist with securing the border. However, officials declined to specify how many troops would be sent or the scope of their actions, stating that such decisions would be left to the Department of Defense.
The reinstatement of the "Remain in Mexico" policy, which was a cornerstone of Trump's first-term immigration strategy, will require asylum seekers to wait in Mexico until their U.S. court dates. It remains unclear whether Mexico has agreed to cooperate with the policy's reimplementation.
Trump's executive orders will also address border infrastructure, with a renewed push to continue building the border wall. In addition, the orders will suspend the entry of undocumented individuals at the southwest border, enabling swift deportations for those apprehended.
The immigration agenda is just one component of Trump's broader Day One plan, which includes more than 200 executive actions across various policy areas. Trump's administration has described the initiative as "shock and awe on a scale never seen before."
Other planned actions include revoking the Paris Climate Accord, halting federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, lifting restrictions on U.S. energy production, and reorganizing the federal bureaucracy. A senior official stated that the actions are part of a broader effort to "restore American greatness" by dismantling regulations and policies from President Joe Biden's administration.
In addition to the immigration-focused orders, Trump plans to create task forces composed of FBI, ICE, and other federal agencies to combat criminal cartels operating within the United States. Designating these groups as terrorist organizations will grant law enforcement expanded authority to combat their activities, according to administration officials.
Critics have raised concerns about the legality and feasibility of some measures, such as ending birthright citizenship, which is enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. The administration, however, argues that executive action is necessary to address what Trump has described as a crisis at the border.
The scope of Trump's first-day agenda underscores the administration's commitment to delivering on campaign promises. Incoming White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the actions as "promises made, promises kept."
"As soon as President Trump places his hand on the Bible, the Golden Age of America will begin," Leavitt said, emphasizing the administration's focus on reshaping federal policy to prioritize American citizens.
While supporters hail the sweeping orders as a bold step toward restoring national security and economic stability, detractors argue they risk overstepping presidential authority and igniting political and legal battles.
