A recent study suggests that if former President Donald Trump secures re-election this year, it could have adverse effects on US immigration policies. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank closely aligned with Trump, has outlined a policy playbook for a potential second Trump administration. According to the study, the impact on immigration could be more intricate and damaging than previously anticipated.
The study asserts that the proposed policies for a second Trump term are not merely a rehash of first-term ideas but rather a meticulously crafted plan aimed at significantly reducing immigration levels and expanding federal government authority at the expense of states. The proposals, it claims, sidestep Congressional and judicial oversight and are designed to dismantle the core principles of the US immigration system.
Under a renewed Trump administration, the study predicts potential cuts to legal immigration, encompassing high-skilled and temporary employment, family reunification, and humanitarian protection. Visa eligibility may be curtailed based on country of origin, and the issuance of immigrant and nonimmigrant visas could be suspended entirely for nations deemed “recalcitrant or uncooperative” regarding the repatriation of deported nationals.
The study highlights that as of June 2020, 13 countries, including China, Russia, India, Cuba, and Eritrea, were classified as recalcitrant, comprising significant source countries for US-based international students, skilled workers, and family reunification beneficiaries. Leveraging visa categories as diplomatic leverage could result in severe restrictions on legal immigration, penalizing not only non-compliant governments but also their nationals and American entities reliant on them.
Moreover, the study warns that these proposals deviate from traditional conservative immigration priorities, such as promoting merit-based immigration, fostering assimilation, and strengthening interior enforcement. Instead, they pose a threat to the existing immigration system, potentially causing significant disruption and damage if implemented.
