The radical immigration changes under Trump that went unnoticed

Annalisa Merelli on Quartz identifies “The radical immigration changes under Trump that went unnoticed.”  She notes that the Trump “administration has pursued radical anti-immigration policies . . . . The government has separated families, detained children, and even used force to prevent asylum seekers from crossing the southern border. ”  Many incremental policies adopted by the administration have garnered less attention from the press and public but are consequential.

Here are a few immigration changes worthy of note:

Social media tracking

Increased denaturalization efforts

Expansion of “public charge” definition

Domestic violence no longer grounds for asylum

Limits to Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

Secret policies:   One example is the so-called “credible fear interviews,” which are preliminary interviews made to determine whether asylum seekers have a good reason to need asylum in the United States. These interviews are supposed to be conducted by experts. Until July, those experts determined that 97% of asylum applicants had enough standing to start their application (which doesn’t mean they would ultimately be granted asylum). Since July, only 10% have been allowed to start their applications.

KJ