MPI Brief Examines Trump Executive Order & DHS Guidance Regarding Sweeping Changes to Immigration Enforcement in U.S. Interior

WASHINGTON — The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) today published a brief that outlines and provides context for major provisions in the executive order signed by President Trump that makes sweeping changes to immigration enforcement within the United States. The "Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States" executive order and accompanying Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidance significantly broaden the categories of unauthorized immigrants who are priorities for removal.

The executive order, signed January 27, 2017, and accompanying guidance issued this week by DHS also revive the controversial Secure Communities program and reinvigorate the 287(g) federal-local agreements under which participating state and local law enforcement agencies are authorized to enforce various aspects of federal immigration law. The executive order also outlines the administration's intent to seek appropriations from Congress to add 10,000 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, limit funding for so-called sanctuary cities and confront countries that refuse to accept return of their nationals ordered deported from the United States.

The brief outlines the key provisions in the executive order and DHS guidance, comparing them to current and prior policy and practice, and offering context where relevant. It is the latest in a series examining key provisions of the immigration-related executive orders signed to date. An earlier brief examined the travel-ban and refugee executive order. In the coming days MPI will publish one assessing changes in border enforcement.

MPI has gathered in one place its research, commentaries and data resources most relevant to understanding of the executive orders. To access the resources, including reports on the 287(g) program and assessing who was a priority for removal during the Obama administration, visit: www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/us-immigration-policy-program/data-and-analysis-related-trump-administration-executive.

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The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank in Washington, DC dedicated to analysis of the movement of people worldwide. MPI provides analysis, development and evaluation of migration and refugee policies at local, national and international levels.