Enforcement

The enforcement of immigration laws is a complex and hotly-debated topic. Learn more about the costs of immigration enforcement and the ways in which the U.S. can enforce our immigration laws humanely and in a manner that ensures due process.

The "Mass Influx" Declaration

In 1996, Congress passed a law giving the federal government the power to declare an emergency relating to a “mass influx” of migrants. When this emergency provision is enacted, the government can both disburse funding to states and localities dealing with the “influx” and delegate authority to local law enforcement agents in those areas to enforce some aspects of federal immigration law.

ICE’s Inadequate Recordkeeping on Treatment of Detained Asylum Seekers Threatens Their Lives

By Anne Peterson, Center for Gender and Refugee Studies As the Trump administration prepares for a dramatic increase in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention, advocates are sounding the alarm that immigrants and people seeking asylum will suffer increasingly inhumane conditions in detention facilities. Immigration detention facilities—often run by private prison companies or by […]

Trump’s Day 1 Orders Use Fearmongering to Expand His Immigration Authority

On January 20, 2025, the day President Trump took office for his second term, he issued a series of immigration-related executive orders and proclamations that will quickly re-shape the U.S. immigration system. These executive orders affect nearly every facet of a complex and demanding system. Most of the policy changes introduced through these actions are […]

Mass Deportations Will Undermine Our Safety

When the Trump administration deported Goura Ndiaye, he had lived in the United States for 20 years, running his own business as an electrician, working as primary breadwinner for his three U.S. citizen daughters, and serving as an active member of his church in Ohio. For 10 years, Goura regularly checked in with immigration authorities […]

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Biden Should Use His Authority to Protect Vulnerable Immigrants Before He Leaves Office

President-elect Donald Trump vowed to deport millions of immigrants in his successful bid for a second term at the White House. This week, we gained a clearer picture about how he aims to fulfill this promise. Tom Homan, former acting chief for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will oversee border policy and work to fulfill […]

Federal Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Asylum Seekers’ Rights to Present at POEs

Ports of entry along our borders are supposed to be where people in need of protection can come to seek humanitarian relief. But since 2016, every presidential administration has used different tactics to turn people away from ports of entry (POEs) along the U.S.-Mexico border before they even get there. Finally, in October, the Ninth […]

What Is the ‘Bipartisan Border Bill’ and How Would It Change the US Immigration System?

The “bipartisan border bill” has been front and center in the presidential election, but it is often presented to the public without clarity on what the bill would actually do. In May, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) introduced S. 4361, the Border Act of 2024. This bill includes nearly identical provisions to a bipartisan immigration […]

FOIA Documents Show Troubling Gaps in Transparency at Torrance County Detention Facility

The Torrance County Detention Facility, located in the remote deserts of New Mexico, is notorious for its mistreatment of migrants. The facility’s issues are compounded by the fact that Torrance has largely operated in secrecy. However, documents and data uncovered through a FOIA request have provided a glimpse into ICE detention practices into the facility. […]