President Donald Trump is moving quickly to implement his immigration agenda during his first week in office.
Within hours of becoming president, Trump signed a spate of executive actions that have already had wide-ranging impacts for people both inside and outside the US. By Wednesday, incoming refugee flights were canceled, troops were moving to the border, federal authorities were given permission to arrest people in or near schools and churches and the pool of undocumented immigrants eligible for quick deportation without a judicial hearing was expanded.
Here are some of the latest developments following Trump’s executive actions:
Increase in US-bound migrants: Approximately 300 migrants have arrived into the northeast Mexican border state of Tamaulipas since Trump was sworn in, with many thinking they would be able to cross into the US legally only to find their appointments canceled, according to a state official.
The region is seeing a steady increase in migrants arriving from southern Mexico, Haiti, Venezuela and Central America, according to Juan José Rodríguez, director of the Institute for Migrants of Tamaulipas, a state agency tasked with receiving and supporting migrants after they’re ordered returned to Mexico.
Rodríguez explains that a majority of the new arrivals came expecting to cross the Rio Grande into Texas for appointments on the now deactivated CBP One app.
Additionally, he told CNN that during the first few days of the second Trump administration, deportations have remained steady and similar to rates under Biden — about 150 people a day.
New directive: Benjamine Huffman, the Department of Homeland Security’s acting secretary, issued a directive Thursday to give the Justice Department’s law enforcement agencies authority to investigate and arrest unlawful immigrants in the US. The agencies include the FBI, US Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; US Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
A call for reimbursement: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent letters to US Congressional Leadership and the entire Texas Congressional Delegation Thursday requesting the federal government reimburse Texas for the more than $11.1 billion in Texas taxpayer money spent to secure the border due to what he says is the Biden Administration’s refusal to do its job for the last four years.
Trump speaks with El Salvadoran president: Donald Trump spoke Thursday with President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador and discussed immigration and transnational gangs, the White House said. On the call, the two leaders focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation to address illegal immigration and combat the growing influence of transnational gangs, specifically the notorious Tren de Aragua, according to a White House readout. Trump also praised President Bukele for his strong leadership in El Salvador and the region, the readout said.