The immigration policies of the United States have undergone significant changes under the administrations of Presidents Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. Here is a summary of the key differences between their respective immigration policies:
Under President Obama (2009-2017):
Obama implemented the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in 2012, which protected certain young immigrants brought to the United States as children (known as “Dreamers”) from deportation and granted them work authorization.
Obama also implemented the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) program in 2014, which would have granted similar protections to the parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, but it was blocked by the courts and never went into effect.
Obama increased border security measures, including the deployment of additional Border Patrol agents and technology such as drones and fencing.
Obama also sought to reform the legal immigration system by proposing legislation that would have provided a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and increased visas for highly skilled workers, but this legislation was not passed by Congress.
Under President Trump (2017-2021):
Trump terminated the DACA program in 2017 and attempted to terminate DAPA, which was already blocked by the courts.
Trump implemented the “Travel Ban” or “Muslim Ban,” which imposed restrictions on citizens of certain countries from obtaining visas to enter the United States.
Trump implemented the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), also known as the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which required certain non-Mexican asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for the duration of their immigration proceedings.
Trump also implemented the “Public Charge” rule, which allows immigration officials to consider an individual’s use of certain public benefits as a negative factor in their immigration application.
Trump signed agreements with Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras known as “Asylum Cooperative Agreements,” which allow the United States to send asylum seekers from other countries back to those countries to seek protection there instead.
Trump implemented the “Title 42” public health order, which allows the U.S. government to quickly expel certain immigrants and asylum seekers at the border due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trump issued executive orders directing the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize the removal of certain immigrants, including those with criminal convictions and those who have recently crossed the border without authorization.
Trump also issued executive orders directing the Department of Homeland Security to review and potentially terminate certain non-immigrant visa programs, including the H-1B program for highly skilled workers, and to review and potentially terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, which allows individuals from certain countries to remain in the United States due to armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions in their home countries.
Under President Biden (2021-present):
Biden issued an executive order on his first day in office directing the Department of Homeland Security to preserve and fortify the DACA program.
Biden also revoked the “Travel Ban” and the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and he halted the implementation of the “Public Charge” rule.
Biden signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to review the Trump administration’s immigration policies and to take action to restore and improve the U.S. asylum system.
Biden also signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to review and potentially revoke the “Asylum Cooperative Agreements” with Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.
Biden has called on Congress to pass legislation providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, including Dreamers, and to reform the legal immigration system.
Biden has also announced plans to increase the number of refugees admitted to the United States
Photo by Kerwin Elias
