After an infamously busy 2017 on the immigration front, the Trump administration apparently has more in store for 2018. “This president won in part on taking a tough stand against illegal immigrants just coming over the border,” Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway told Fox News. “People want to know that our borders are secure, and this president has a 70-point immigration plan.”
That’s a lot of points. So what further reforms could President Trump have planned for 2018? Here are some possibilities:
Battle Over the Ban
While the president continues to politicize terror attacks — harping on the immigration status of some, while leaving others’ status aside — federal courts have continued to battle over Trump’s travel ban. The ban, now in its third iteration, even made it to the Supreme Court, but the fight’s not over yet. Expect more rulings this year.
Dreamer Decision
Trump already rolled back Obama’s Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, DAPA, but the president and Congress have yet to act on DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The president claims to want action from Congress on Dreamers, he has also tied any legislative bargain to funding for a border wall.
Haranguing Over H-1Bs
H-1B visas allow highly skilled, foreign workers to work in the United States for three to six years, and 85,000 are issued every year. But Trump’s “Buy American and Hire American” executive order could make obtaining such a visa much more difficult.
Deportation Developments
Obama did put in place some protections for family members, yet his administration also deported more than 2.5 million people during his time in office, from 2009-2015. And while those deportation efforts focused mainly on recent illegal border crossings and undocumented immigrants with criminal records, Trump is expected to expand on that framework, extending deportation efforts to unaccompanied minors and parents and by pressuring immigration judges to complete more cases.
Sanctuary Skirmishes
Cities and states are still battling the Trump administration over sanctuary status, as Attorney General Jeff Sessions threatened to withhold funding for jurisdictions that decline to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Expect that struggle to continue in 2018.
And if you need help with an immigration issue, contact a local attorney today.
Related Resources:
- Find Immigration Lawyers Near You (FindLaw’s Lawyer Directory)
- Here’s the Latest on Trump Immigration Reform Efforts (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
- Trump’s New Travel Ban Blocked Like the Old Travel Ban (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
- Latest News on Sanctuary City and State Laws, Legal Battles (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
Source: Law