Immigration, Crime, and Policy Power in Trump’s Second Term

The second administration of Donald Trump has taken a different approach to immigration compared to his first term. This time, immigration policy is being used as a tool to tighten controls, with a focus on crime statistics.

Increased Enforcement and Visa Changes

US Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) has intensified its patrols in Washington, Chicago, and Louisiana, signaling a new priority for the administration. Visa rules have also been reshaped to justify stricter measures based on isolated criminal incidents among immigrants, despite foreigners accounting for a small proportion of U.S. crime.

Key Actions and Policies

March 2024:
Deportation of Rümeysa Öztürk: Trump announced a plan to deport a pro-Palestinian student protester holding an F-1 visa after she published an opinion piece about Israel.
Arrest of Mahmoud Khalil: A Columbia graduate and human-rights organizer from Palestine was arrested, initially treated as a student before confirming his permanent-resident status.
April 2024:
Visa Cuts and Halts: The White House began cutting over a thousand international students’ visas and halted new F-1 issuances for two months. Consular officers were instructed to check applicants’ social-media profiles for political views and hold visas in "administrative refusal" until applicants demonstrated alignment with U.S. interests.

November 2025:
Eight Thousand Visas Lost: Over eight thousand students have lost their visas due to the new vetting process.
June 1, 2025:
Expanded Travel Ban: Following a fire in Boulder, Colorado, carried out by an Egyptian national, Trump issued a new proclamation tightening entry limits on several countries, including Iran, Venezuela, Yemen, Libya, Cuba, and Haiti. Diplomats, Olympic athletes, and certain minority refugees from Iran were exempted.
August 2025:
Truck Driver Visa Cancellation: After a fatal traffic crash in Florida involving an Indian driver, Trump announced plans to cancel visa pathways for truck drivers. This move came amid growing opposition to H-1B visas, with a proposed $100,000 application fee.
November 28, 2025:
Pause on Afghan Visas: Following a shooting involving an Afghan national, the administration paused all visas for Afghan nationals and promised to permanently halt "third-world" migration and all asylum.

Congressional Support

Congressional Republicans have backed this trajectory through the "Pause" Act, which would freeze immigration, restrict statutory benefits for some visa holders, and bar H-1B workers from adjusting status to permanent residence.